Morrisons outsource plan puts jobs at risk (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Supermarket giant could outsource its department for fridge maintenance, putting 60 jobs at risk

7:10am Thursday 29th March 2012 in Bradford By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter

Up to 60 jobs could be at risk in the maintenance department of supermarket giant Morrisons as they look to potentially overhaul part of their Property Services section.

It is understood that staff were informed last Thursday that their jobs could be at risk at the supermarket, which has 475 stores across the UK, if the facility is outsourced.

It is understood that the maintenance function, believed to be made up of surveyors, engineers, and administration staff – which provides support for the stores’ refrigeration units – could be outsourced to a managing agent. That would enable a helpdesk operation manned 365 days of the year to possibly be introduced, then all stores with refrigeration and other problems could call one phone number for help.

A new structure could mean centralised processing and could support future growth plans.

Julian Bailey, Morrison’s head of media relations, confirmed that they were consulting with 60 staff on a “proposed change to the staff structure”.

Mr Bailey said that they were reviewing the service provision in the maintenance division which included the refrigeration in stores across the UK.

“No decision has been made and that includes no decisions on redundancies, we are clearly consulting at this stage,” he said.

“We keep every part of our business management under review so that we know what we are doing is effective and efficient for the business.

“We have reviewed service provision in this area and have decided that we may move to using managing agents and are now consulting with staff.

“It is proposed that 20 roles remain inhouse and that is all I can say at the moment.

“There are a number of options at this stage and I am not prepared to comment any further.”

Earlier this month it was reported that the supermarket had its “best year yet” in 2011 after record numbers of customers helped boost profits.

But Morrisons had warned that 2012 could be harder despite shopper numbers hitting a record 400,000 a week last year.