Tesco ditches night shifts, putting 1,500 jobs at risk
Almost 1,500 jobs are at risk at Tesco as the supermarket ditches night shifts in more than 80 stores and almost 40 petrol stations.
The potential job cuts emerged only a day after the UK’s biggest supermarket chain said it would be shutting its Jack’s discount chain, with the potential loss of about 130 jobs, and closing more of its deli and meat counters.
Overnight stock replenishment will now be done during the day in 36 large stores and 49 convenience stores. At 36 stores, petrol stations will be converted to be “pay-at-pump only” overnight.
Jason Tarry, chief executive of Tesco’s UK and Irish business, said: “We operate in a highly competitive and fast-paced market and our customers are shopping differently, especially since the start of the pandemic.
“We are always looking at how we can run our business as simply and efficiently as possible, so that we can re-invest in the things that matter most to customers. The changes we are announcing today will help us do this.”
The retailer said it had 3,000 vacancies in the business and aimed to work with each affected member of staff to try to help them find another role.
Daniel Adams, national officer of shop workers union Usdaw, said the union was engaging with the supermarket in an effort to protect jobs and secure the best deal for those affected.
Adams said: “Tesco has informed us that they are looking to undertake a number of restructures across the business … Clearly this will be incredibly unsettling for those who may be affected.
“We should not forget the role that key workers have played throughout the coronavirus pandemic and to receive this news is devastating.
Tesco has nearly 3,000 stores in the UK in total, including 800 large supermarkets, and it is not clear if it
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