Sainsbury's plan '˜a threat to over 200 jobs'

It said jobs are under threat at all stores but in particular Holywood, West Belfast, Strand Road, Londonderry, and Dungannon and said it would do everything possible to work with management to minimise the impact.

“We are deeply disappointed by proposals published by Sainsbury’s which threaten to reduce its employment cohort by 2,500 across the UK including a net reduction of six hundred store trainers and 1,900 night shift positions,” said Unite officer Sean Smyth.

“While these proposals will impact on all Sainsbury’s stores, we are most concerned about the potential impact on the workforce in stores in Holywood, West Belfast, Strand Road and Dungannon.

“These proposals come as part of a cost-cutting exercise, in which management propose to rationalise employment in the night shift and store trainers across all stores.

“This is not the first time that this proposal has been raised by management and follows on from a pilot initiative. While we understand and support the need to deliver efficiencies and to improve the quality of service to customers we are concerned about the impact of these proposals on our members. We will continue to work collaboratively with management to minimise the numbers who are made redundant as a result of these changes”, he said.

In a statment Sainsbury’s said it was conducting a consultation process with all affected staff.

“We currently employ 870 store trainers. We’re now creating around 280 new learning and development manager positions and all affected colleagues will have the opportunity to apply for these more senior roles.”