BRITAIN’S major supermarkets were urged yesterday to work with unions to secure the jobs, terms and conditions of their workforces.

Unite has written to the bosses of nine British and Irish supermarket giants calling for a personal meeting “to explore more constructive avenues to secure jobs.”

The letters have been sent to Asda, Co-operative Food, Marks & Spencer, Morrisons, Budgens, Sainsbury, Spar and Tesco, as well as BWG Foods in Ireland.

Unite reps from the distribution and retail sectors held a summit in Salford yesterday to discuss the current situation and formulate plans for increasing the pressure on the retailers to enter into constructive talks.

The union noted that supermarkets have been hit hard, with profits plummeting, and that in a bid to cut overheads employers have slashed workforces.