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Workers showed how it is possible to win a victory for union rights over the world’s largest retailer last week. Depot workers, members of the GMB union, have forced a level of union recognition from the food giant Asda.

Gill Whittaker campaign Over 60 people lobbied the disciplinary hearing for Chesterfield PCS activist Gill Whittaker on Friday of last week. Those attending included delegations from the GMB, CWU, Amicus, UCU unions, Chesterfield trades council and the Derbyshire Unemployed Workers’ Centre. Speakers at the rally included Paul Holmes MP.

Factory workers in the GMB union went on strike last weekend for 24 hours after they were offered free pet food as part of an "improved" pay deal.

Asda suspended Hugh Bennett, a truck driver and GMB union steward in Wigan, for supporting the union’s strike ballot by writing "vote yes" on an England flag.

The first two days of the GMB union conference in Blackpool saw talk of fighting the bosses.

Asda suspended Hugh Bennett, a truck driver and GMB union shop steward in Wigan, last week for writing "vote yes" on an England flag attached to his cab. The words refer to a strike ballot currently under way.

GMB lobby GMB union members lobbied parishioners of the Holy Trinity Church, Clapham Common, London, last Sunday. Damon Buffini, head of the venture capital company Permira which part-owns the AA, is associated with the church. Since Permira took over the AA in 2004 bosses have sacked one in three workers, including a number of disabled staff.

The GMB union has called off a strike ballot of depot workers at Asda.

Some 340 GMB union members working for Asda at the ADC Depot in Washington, Tyne & Wear, who were awarded compensation of £2,500 each by an Employment Tribunal last month are still waiting for payment. Asda, which is now owned by the US Wal-Mart corporation, is appealing against being penalised for a failed attempt at union busting.

Members of the GMB union at more than 21 Asda depots are balloting on strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions.

Over 500 delegates attended the recall congress of the GMB union to discuss in detail the findings of the inquiry into allegations of corruption and fraud during the 2003 general secretary election.

Members of the GMB union at more than 20 Asda depots are balloting on strike action in a dispute over pay and conditions. A strike could affect supplies to about 300 stores.