Lidl’s plans to challenge a court decision giving the GMB the right to represent workers at the retailer’s Brigend, Wales, depot has been strongly condemned by the union.
The German supermarket chain is considering an appeal after the Central Arbitration Committee (CAC), the independent tribunal with statutory powers over trade union recognition, dismissed its attempts to block its Brigend warehouse operatives from having union representation.
GMB legal director Maria Ludkin hit back at Lidl’s move. Noting that Lidl had “lost two court battles,” on the issue she called for the retailer to “start respecting the laws in this country” and to “abandon attempts to subvert (workers’) rights and begin to bargain with their employees and to extend collective bargaining to their hard pressed retail workers."
In a statement Lidl said it was “disappointed with the outcome of the judicial review” adding that it is “currently considering an appeal with our legal team.”
The retailer defended its record as an employer claiming its employees receive “a high level of internal support and are provided with entitlements that go above and beyond statutory standards.” It added: “We maintain the belief that our employees are fairly represented within the business, without having to engage with unions and creating a fragmented workforce."
Justin Bowden, GMB national secretary, said "Lidl's attempts at union busting were quite properly thrown out by the judge in a massive victory for rights at work.”
He added: “The suggestion that Lidl's workers do not need the option of a trade union to stick up for them and fight for their interests is baloney, pure and simple.”
John Phillips, GMB Wales and south-west regional secretary, said "Regrettably, Lidl continues to show both hostility towards GMB and shameful disregard for the wishes of its own workforce with expensive challenges against fair and objective decisions made by independent third party organisations.”
He called on Lidl to “do the right thing and engage in constructive dialogue with us to ensure the company’s workers can be balloted fairly."
Lidl has 637 stores and nine regional distribution centres in the UK, employing 1,800 staff and is planning to open a total of 1,500 stores in the next few years. The retailer also has nine distribution centres and plans to open two more in in Southampton in September this year and in Wednesbury in early 2017, which will create a total of 900 jobs.
