Thousands of Wilko workers have voted in favour of strike action following the firm's decision to axe sick pay amid the ongoing Covid pandemic.
Union GMB said 88% of staff have voted for industrial action following 'savage' cuts to contracts.
This includes workers having their sick pay entitlement significantly cut from the first absence - despite pay remaining in place for senior management.
The brutal cuts were first revealed by Mirror Money last year after our investigation found 21,000 people would lose all or some of their sick pay allowance.
In documents sent to staff, we exposed the chain's plans to withdraw sick pay for all workers after their second absence.
The rules effectively mean if you're ill more than once in a year - you will not be paid for it beyond the statutory minimum.
Will you be affected by Wilko's contract changes? Get in touch: emma.munbodh@mirror.co.uk
Wilko later put the decision on hold, but defended the move by saying it had been made to prevent workers from "taking advantage" of its sick pay policy.
"Morale is so low it is untrue," one long-standing employee, who asked for anonymity, told us.
Another colleague said: "You feel so worthless as an employee at Wilko, this sick pay insult is the final straw. It was announced shortly after an enforced contract change, which saw many team members forced to choose between their family commitments, carers, childcare etc. and their personal health."
The high street chain has remained open throughout the pandemic - including on Boxing Day at the request of the firm's bosses.
GMB said Wilko has repaid this loyalty by announcing cuts to the sick pay of their staff.
"Most of these workers have worked through the pandemic. It's really upsetting as an employee to be treated like this over and over again," the employee added.
Currently Wilko employees are entitled to up to four sickness days on company pay before reverting to the first three days of sick leave unpaid.
But under new rules, if a Wilko employee has a single day of sickness they will have no further entitlement to company sick pay for the next 12 months.
Many of these workers are on minimum wage - which is currently 8.72 for over 25s.
Management are exempt from the changes.
Roger Jenkins, GMB national officer, said: "Wilko keyworkers are furious – and no wonder. They've worked through the pandemic - risking themselves and their families - dealing with a lack of social distancing, increased threats and abuse from customers.
"Now bosses have told them they’re slashing their sick pay entitlement, which management are keeping theirs. It’s grotesque.
"Wilko, a so-called family company, should be utterly ashamed of themselves.
Mirror Money contacted Wilko for a statement.
"We're naturally disappointed with the ballot result, industrial action isn't in anyone's best interest at this challenging time for both retail in general and the High Street," a statement told us.
"We believe the right way to resolve any differences for the benefit of our customers and team members is through listening, talking and working things through together."
"Early last year we considered some necessary changes to our policy designed to bring us more into line with other retailers.
"We soon put these on hold to support our team members whilst we concentrated on keeping our stores open as an essential retailer to provide our customers with access to the household and hardware items they need for their families."
Wilko CEO Jerome Saint-Marc added: "Having unsuccessfully worked with our union to try to reduce absence we're now changing our policy to reduce abuse of it by some team members.
"Going forwards second sickness absences in a year will be covered by statutory sick pay.
"This still protects our team members and the change protects customer service and the financial health of our business. It allows us to invest where we should be investing in the future of Wilko and all the customers, team members and suppliers who rely on it."
