Morrisons is to put 1,000 jobs at risk, according to reports. The supermarket giant is set to ditch at least 83 property maintenance suppliers and move to just one supplier for repairs, it is claimed.
Morrisons also plans to cut around 50 staff dealing with property maintenance at its Bradford head office and around the UK, reports the Guardian. The companies affected by the cuts provide cleaning, electrical, gardening, roofing and other maintenance professionals for Morrisons’ stores, manufacturing sites and head office.
A large number of these suppliers had been taken on by Morrisons co-founder Sir Ken Morrison, who started the supermarket chain from a market stall in Bradford in 1961. Some suppliers said their relationships with the chain had been "ended" through a short video call in which "they had not been able to ask questions".
The Guardian reported that some Morrisons staff will be transferred to a new sole provider called City Facilities Management, which is based in Glasgow. Morrisons said it expected 120 job losses overall, however, suppliers said they had been given "no guarantees and believe that many more could go".
Two suppliers told the Guardian they expect to lay off around 200 staff between them as their business was "so reliant" on Morrisons.
A Morrisons spokesperson told the Guardian: “We are proposing some important changes and improvements to our maintenance model through a new national partnership with City FM, but we anticipate many of our existing suppliers to continue to work for Morrisons under subcontracting arrangements.
"We are endeavouring to communicate and execute these changes carefully and thoughtfully with all those affected.”
