ASDA workers have voted in favour of taking industrial action after the supermarket proposed making cuts to sick pay, a union has said.

Thousands of workers for the supermarket giant - which has distribution centres in Chepstow and in Bristol - have voiced their opposition to being "forced into self-funding their own pay rise via cuts to their sick pay", the GMB Union said.

The union has confirmed all centres would be affected by strikes.

GMB held a consultative ballot its 8,000 members working in driver, warehouse and clerical roles, and 95 per cent of those who voted said they were willing to take industrial action over "a real-terms pay cut". A consultative ballot does not mean a strike is set to go ahead, rather that members are in favour of taking industrial action. A further vote will need to be held if strike action is to take place.

GMB said the proposed pay deal would see workers lose sick pay entitlement - including the first three days of paid sick pay in any sickness absence and the last 13 to 26 weeks of sick pay.

However, an Asda spokesman said: "The consultative ballot was not over sick pay. We are negotiating with the GMB on pay in our depots. This is not about sick pay or colleague pay in stores."

GMB will now meet with members to discuss next steps.

Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, said: "This ballot result show how angry Asda workers are.

"They're being asked to swallow a real terms pay cut while Asda's top brass give themselves a hefty pay rise.

"There's no way these keyworkers should be forced into self-funding their own pay rise via cuts to their sick pay.

"We will now meet with members to discuss next steps."

An Asda spokesman said: “We have made two improved pay offers which would see warehouse salaries increase to up to £13.89 per hour and transport salaries to up to £16.25 per hour.

"This is a fair, competitive and sustainable offer and we are disappointed it was rejected by the GMB without giving their members the chance to vote on the proposal.

"It is normal during the course of negotiations to seek ways to help fund additional investment in pay and the offer we have made both increases the rate of pay for workers and retains a sickness pay and policy that is in line with the market.

"Any talk of industrial action is premature as there is an agreed framework in place including independent conciliation and arbitration at ACAS if necessary, as part of our longstanding, agreed dispute resolution process.”