WARRINGTON South MP Faisal Rashid has reaffirmed a plea urging Asda to reconsider ‘forced’ contract changes.

The issue over the controversial new contracts has been rumbling on for months.

Mr Rashid believes it will see staff at the retail giant’s Westbrook and Cockhedge superstores lose out on flexibility and holidays.

The Labour politician says he is angered by reports that Asda ‘continues to force these unfair contract changes’ on employees.

“I fail to see how this is an appropriate way to treat loyal, hard-working staff in my constituency – particularly at a time when Asda are recording £850 million in annual profits,” he said.

“People who have provided years of service to the company are set to lose many benefits.

“Employees should not feel bullied into signing this contract with the threat of losing their jobs.

“Once again, I am calling on Asda to do right by these employees and urgently reconsider these forced contract changes.”

But Asda says the ‘overwhelming majority’ of colleagues have signed up to the new contract and that it will provide a pay increase for more than 100,000 retail workers.

A spokesman added: “The retail sector is immensely competitive and it is important that we are able to serve our customers in the best way to meet their needs.

“This contract is about increasing the take-home pay of more than 100,000 retail colleagues, through an investment of more than £80 million, and ensuring that everyone doing the same job is on the same terms and conditions.

“The overwhelming majority of our colleagues from across all our stores, including in Warrington, have signed onto the new contracts and while we appreciate that some of our colleagues find the changes more unsettling, we do not want any of them to leave.

“We understand colleagues have commitments outside of work and will not be asking them to constantly move the time they work, their days or departments.”