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Tesco came under fire on Tuesday from a group of unions, for allegedly failing to uphold Britain’s biggest retailer’s labour principles abroad.

UNI Global Union, which represents 900 trade unions and 20m workers worldwide, alleged that Tesco’s employment practices in Thailand, South Korea and the US fell short of its published labour principles.



Phil Bowyer, deputy general secretary of UNI Global Union, alleged that research reports had found “inconsistencies” between Tesco’s global principles and local practices.

Tesco strongly denied the allegations, describing them as “untrue” and a “travesty”.



The retailer said: “This is a politically motivated report paid for by a union which is trying to recruit more members. The reports are a travesty and misrepresent the truth. UNI are using a standard tack of going to far off places, producing reports which are very difficult for people in the UK to check. We do check these matters and can tell you that the allegations are untrue.”

Tesco added: “Wherever we operate in the world, all staff are free to join trade unions and can voice their opinions in a number of ways, including our anonymous annual staff survey. We have productive relationships with unions in a number of countries including USDAW in the UK and Solidarity in Poland.”



UNI denied misrepresenting the truth and said the reports had been meticulously researched.

The United Food and Commercial Workers, the largest US grocery union, has been campaigning for recognition from Tesco, where the group is making a push into the US market with its Fresh & Easy stores.



Tesco said: “If a member of staff wants to join a union, they can. There are clear rules [in the US] on how businesses have to recognise unions if they get to a certain level of support, and we would abide by this. At the moment, the level of support is not there.”



Tesco holds its annual meeting on Friday.



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