LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Tesco said about 1,600 jobs were at risk as the supermarket chain decided to scrap night shifts in many of its stores and petrol stations.
The FTSE 100 group said it would ditch night shifts for shelf stacking in 36 large stores and 49 convenience outlets. At 37 petrol stations customers will pay at the pump during overnight hours.

Tesco said moving shelf stacking to the daytime meant employees were also available to serve customers. The company revealed the plans a day after it said it would shut its Jack's discount chain and scrap more of its deli and meant counters.

In total almost 1,600 jobs are threatened though Tesco said it had 3,000 vacancies and would try to find new jobs for all those affected by the cuts.

Jason Tarry, Tesco's chief executive for the UK and Ireland, said: "We operate in a highly competitive and fast-paced market and our customers are shopping differently, especially since the start of the pandemic. Our priority now is to support our impacted colleagues through these changes."

Daniel Adams, national officer at the Usdaw retail trade union, said: "This will be incredibly unsettling for those who may be affected. We should not forget the role that key workers have played throughout the coronavirus pandemic and to receive this news is devastating.

"Usdaw will do all we can to support members throughout the process and we will fully engage in consultation with the business with a view to protecting jobs and, where this is not possible, securing the best possible deal for those affected."

Tesco shares rose 1.2% to 300.5p at 12:56 GMT.

Tesco has almost UK 3,000 stores including 800 large supermarkets. The company did not say whether it was considering scrapping night shifts in more of its shops.

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