Labour’s Parliamentary candidate for Worcester is calling on Asda to think again over forced contract changes that could see staff at the city's store lose out.

Asda wants to bring all retail staff onto its 'contract 6', which will increase base pay from £8.84 to £9 per hour plus any location premiums. However, unpaid breaks and the requirement to work on bank holidays will be introduced.

The dispute over the contracts has been rumbling on for months but is due to come to a head in the coming weeks as staff across the country are forced by Asda bosses to sign changes to their contracts or face the sack.

Those who do not agree to the Asda contract changes will be issued with a minimum of 12 weeks’ notice to leave the company.

In response to a recent consultative ballot, 93 per cent of respondents told GMB union that they did not agree with the contract changes which were being forced on them.

Lynn Denham, Labour's parliamentary candidate for Worcester, and also a city councillor, said: “It is deeply concerning to me that Worcester people may be forced into accepting worse terms and conditions in order to improve the profitability of Walmart, a US Corporation (which owns Asda).

“I would encourage any staff in Worcester affected by the proposed contract changes to get in touch with their local GMB office in Worcester. Shoppers would be horrified to know Asda are leaving staff with no real choice. Asda should think again.

“Asda must work constructively with GMB union, its members and workers at Asda to seek a better deal and secure a decent future for Asda workers in Worcester.”

An Asda spokesman said bringing all retail staff onto the same contract – currently there are six different contracts in place – would ensure consistency and fairness and will allow the company to have the “right colleagues in the right place at the right time”.

“The retail sector is undergoing significant change and it is important that we are able to keep pace with these changes. The overwhelming majority of our colleagues have signed onto the new contracts and while we appreciate that some of our colleagues find the changes more unsettling, we do not want any of them to leave.

“We have been clear that we understand colleagues have commitments outside of work and will not be asking them to constantly move the time they work, their days or departments. Any changes will be with at least four weeks’ notice.

“This contract is about increasing the take-home pay of more than 100,000 retail colleagues, through an investment of more than £80m, and ensuring that everyone doing the same job is on the same terms and conditions.”