Trade unions are planning to press supermarket chain Sainsbury's
for compensation for 900 IT staff transferring from the supermarket
to Andersen Consulting.
The £1.5m deal with Andersen will allow the supermarket chain to
cut costs and break free of its legacy systems, which consume £200m
a year.
But the MSF Technology Professionals Association said the move
would mean that IT workers lose out on the pension and share option
benefits they enjoy at Sainsbury's.
"There is quite a difference between the Sainsbury's pension
scheme, which is final salary, and the Andersen scheme, which is
money purchase," said Peter Skyte, national organiser of the
compensation claim.
Staff will also lose out because the Andersen scheme is less
generous than the Sainsbury's scheme.
The retirement age at Andersen is also five years earlier than
Sainsbury's, leaving less time to build up their funds, said
Skyte.
Sainsbury's said it would comply with the Transfer of
Undertakings Protection of Employment regulations, which guarantee
employees equivalent terms when they transfer to a new
employer.
"The elements of the remuneration package might vary but overall
they will be as well, or better off," claimed Sainsbury's.
IT staff will have more opportunities to develop their careers
at Andersen, the retailer added.