GMB union warns job losses at Wilko ‘may very well be introduced on Thursday’

Job losses at Wilko may very well be introduced on Thursday after a proposal to purchase your entire enterprise reportedly didn’t “pass basic checks”, in line with a union representing employees.

The GMB mentioned it had been instructed redundancy plans on the low cost homeware chain, which were said to have been suspended earlier this week, may very well be “restarted” and the way forward for any jobs on the agency couldn’t presently be assured.

It comes after the union met with directors from PwC on Wednesday morning.

The low cost homeware items firm, which employs round 12,500 employees, collapsed earlier this month after struggling from inflationary pressures, competitors from rivals and provide chain challenges.

But the chain’s 400 branches have remained open since then within the hope a purchaser will be discovered.

Sky News understands there aren’t any plans to shut any Wilko outlets this week.

A GMB spokesperson mentioned: “In the assembly they suggested that the corporate had been nonetheless actively assessing a lot of bids.

“However, they also advised that the bid which had been received for the entire business has yet to pass basic checks.”

The union mentioned that if additional info from the bidder was not acquired by 5pm on Wednesday “then the redundancies which were paused yesterday are likely to be restarted tomorrow”.

It instructed this might embrace roles on the firm’s distribution centres and assist centre.

The GMB added: “Whilst this does mean that there are bids on the table for a significant proportion of the stores and the online business, we still cannot guarantee the future of any jobs moving forwards at this point.”

The GMB and PwC are on account of maintain additional talks on Thursday.

PwC declined to remark.