4,000 jobs at risk at Sainsbury’s

Up to 4,000 jobs are at risk at supermarket giant Sainsbury’s after the firm said it “need to put its priorities in the right place.”

It is not yet known which stores will be hit by the news, but among the jobs being cut are some 400 price controller roles.

A spokesperson for Sainsbury’s said: “We regularly review our business to ensure we’re operating as efficiently and effectively as possible and our resources are in the right place, so that we can provide our customers with the best possible service. Following a recent review, we are making some changes to administrative roles and night shift patterns in a number of stores, subject to consultation.

“We appreciate this will be a difficult time for those colleagues affected by the changes and will support them in any way we can.”

The Unite union says night shifts in 140 stores will be removed – although Sainsbury’s says that this will be a change in the times of the shifts – and changes to the commercial set up in stores.

Unite represents more than 12,000 members working for Sainsbury’s and will now enter a 45 day consultation period over the plans which affects stores across the UK.

Unite national officer for food and drink Julia Long said: “This is very bad news for those dedicated workers affected by the planned job losses and Unite will be giving our members maximum support at this difficult time.

“We appreciate that Sainsbury’s has a good record of redeployment of staff in these situations and we will be exploring every avenue to ensure continuing employment for our members.

“We are now entering the 45-day consultation period and will be having meetings with management, including asking the company if it has done an equalities’ audit of those affected by today’s announcement.”

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