Morrisons staff are striking over changes to their pensions

Around 1,000 staff at the supermarket chain’s Wakefield and Northwich warehouses have started a strike that is set to run until 5am on Sunday. 

Trade union Unite said the retailer had “refused to negotiate” over changes to pensions and other staff benefits.

Unite claims workers were being forced to increase their pension contributions while Morrisons reduced its contribution by the same amount, leaving workers £500 a year worse off.

Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said: “Unite is focused on our members’ jobs, pay and conditions and these unmerited changes to workers’ pensions will leave our members worse off every month.

“Unite will not stand for such behaviour from any employer, let alone one like Morrisons which is raking in massive profits during a cost-of-living crisis.

“Its flagrant profiteering and then cutting our members’ take-home pay is a disgrace.”

Morrisons said: “We have made a number of new proposals to Unite including a 9% pay award, a new service award scheme and improvements to the planned future pension scheme changes.

“Disappointingly, Unite has chosen to reject these new proposals without putting them to its members, and instead are continuing with strike action at two out of our seven logistics sites, initially over three days.

“We remain open to further dialogue with the union.”

Morrisons said the two warehouses will remain open but would operate at a reduced capacity.

Further industrial action is planned between June 13 and 16, according to Unite.