News

Tesco’s new deal: Good or bad?

Published

10 years ago

June 22, 2016

TESCO, who have 2,620 stores throughout the UK and 14 within the Herald’s coverage area, are to slash wages for many employees by the time they receive their next pay cheques, which is hidden by a blanket increase to wages nationally, staff say.

The Herald was contacted by a current employee of the retail giant who found out about the cuts earlier this year after working for the company over the last two decades.

They explained that although across the board staff are to receive very slightly higher wages, those who work unsociable hours and Sunday shifts will be detrimentally effected.

THE CUTS

The cuts will come in the form of bonus reductions; staff will no longer receive double time for Sundays and Bank Holidays, and those working night shifts and overtime hours will no longer receive the same increases, with some staff claiming they’ve been told overtime will be paid at the standard hourly rate.

On Sundays and Bank Holidays, the formerly doubled pay will be reduced to just time and a half, a reduction of 25%.

The employee who contacted The Herald notified us that they thought the increases to staff wages were only being implemented to mask the reductions which the retailer is making, to allow the national media to hide that staff are going to suffer from the changes.

THE INCREASE

Nearly a quarter of a million Tesco store staff will receive a 3.1% increase in basic pay this year under a new ‘deal’ that includes the cuts to holiday and night-time bonuses.

Established staff at Tesco will qualify for the increase and will get £7.62 an hour starting from July, some 42p over the £7.20 minimum wage for over-25s.

New employees to the company will see their pay rise £7.20 to £7.24 in July, which was increased from £7.04 to fall in-line with the national minimum earlier this year.

SOFTEN THE BLOW WITH A PAY-OUT

The Herald was told that as a sweetener, employees who were to be most affected by the bonus changes would be receiving a sum of money to make up the difference for a short period of time.

We were told that compared with the length of time they and others had been at the company and how long they intended to stay, the payment for the short period was not good enough.

Tesco have said that 85% of staff would be better off under the pay deal and that those who had been negatively affected would be handed a lump-sum payment worth 18-months of the difference in pay.

HOW DOES THE RETAILER’S PAY COMPARE?

Online statistics show that Tesco’s pay increase will put them above Sainsbury’s and Asda who currently pay national minimum wage (£7.20), but compared with companies like Lidl, Aldi and Morrison’s all of whom offer around £8/hour, the retailer falls short.

Matt Davies, the chief executive of Tesco in the UK and the Republic of Ireland, said: “We’ve spent a lot of time working with [trade union] Usdaw and colleague representatives to understand what’s important to colleagues.

“Together, we have agreed one of the highest pay and benefits packages in retail for store colleagues, and introduced a simpler and fairer pay structure, including one approach to premium payments.

“As well as an increase in pay, which puts our hourly rate well above the government’s national living wage, we remain absolutely committed to rewarding our colleagues with a pay and benefits package they really value, including a pension, colleague discount and 5% turnaround bonus.”

Pauline Foulkes, a national officer at Usdaw, said the total package for Tesco staff, including a 5% turnaround bonus that employees are on track to receive this year, was well ahead of the living wage and was one of the best in retail: “We believe the deal is the best that could be achieved in the circumstances and represents a significant investment in pay and benefits.”

Crime

Teacher assaulted by pupil with weapon at Milford Haven school

Published

19 minutes ago

February 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Teenager arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after lockdown triggered

A TEACHER was assaulted by a pupil brandishing a weapon at Milford Haven School on Tuesday afternoon (Feb 4), triggering an emergency lockdown and a major police response.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the school at around 3:20pm following reports that a member of staff had been attacked.

A lockdown was immediately implemented, with doors secured and pupils and staff told to remain inside classrooms and offices while the situation was dealt with.

Most pupils had already left at the end of the school day, but some remained on site for after-school activities.

Police confirmed that the injured teacher’s wounds are not believed to be stab injuries and they are currently receiving medical treatment.

Superintendent Chris Neve said: “We can confirm police are at Milford Haven Comprehensive School, following a report of the assault of a teacher by a pupil brandishing a weapon at the school at approx. 3.20pm.

“The teacher’s injury is not a stab injury. A lock down was implemented but has now been lifted. The teacher is receiving medical treatment for their injuries.

“All pupils at the location are safe, and most have gone home. Officers remain at the school.

“A 15-year-old boy has been arrested on suspicion of attempt murder and is in police custody.”

Parents told The Herald they were alerted to the lockdown shortly after 3:00pm via messages and social media, with some describing staff and pupils being kept inside rooms for safety as a precaution.

The lockdown has since been lifted, but officers remain at the scene while enquiries continue.

There have been no reports of any injuries to pupils.

The Herald has also contacted Pembrokeshire County Council for further comment.

Photo caption: Police vehicles outside Ysgol Aberdaugleddau Milford Haven School following Tuesday afternoon’s incident (Pics: Herald).

Crime

Lockdown at Milford Haven School after emergency services called

Published

39 minutes ago

February 5, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A LOCKDOWN was put in place at Milford Haven School shortly after the end of the school day on today (Feb 5), with police and other emergency services attending the site and the situation ongoing as of late afternoon.

Staff used the tannoy system just after 3:00pm to announce that the school was entering lockdown.

While most pupils had already gone home, a number remained on site for after-school clubs and activities. As part of the procedure, doors were locked and those inside were instructed to stay in classrooms or offices.

One member of non-teaching staff wrote on social media that they had been “locked in a room” for protection.

Several marked vehicles from Dyfed-Powys Police were seen outside the school gates, with officers remaining at the scene.

The exact nature of the incident has not yet been confirmed.

The Herald has contacted both Pembrokeshire County Council and police for clarification, but no official statement had been issued at the time of publication.

Lockdown procedures are standard in schools and are designed to keep pupils and staff safe by restricting movement and securing buildings while a potential risk is assessed.

Parents told The Herald they were informed that children were safe but that movement around the campus had been temporarily restricted.

There have been no confirmed reports of injuries.

It is not yet clear when the lockdown will be lifted.

This is a developing story and will be updated as soon as further information becomes available.

Photo caption: Police vehicles outside Milford Haven School during Tuesday afternoon’s lockdown (Pics: Herald).

Crime

Sex offender who vanished after release jailed after walking into police station

Published

50 minutes ago

February 5, 2026

Staff Writer

Man subject to Crimewatch appeal admitted breaching lifetime notification rules after months living ‘off grid’

A REGISTERED sex offender who sparked a nationwide police hunt after disappearing on release from prison has been jailed after walking into a Pembrokeshire police station and handing himself in.

Christopher Spelman, aged 66 and of no fixed address, had been missing since July last year after refusing to comply with strict legal requirements to register his whereabouts with police.

Instead, officers were told he intended to buy a tent and live “off grid”.

The disappearance triggered an extensive search led by Lancashire Police, supported by forces across the UK. Public appeals were issued and the case was highlighted on Crimewatch in a bid to trace him.

Police believed Spelman was moving between campsites and travelling by public transport, with links to several parts of England and Wales including Merseyside, Manchester, Devon, Cornwall, Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire.

The search ended unexpectedly on January 3 when Spelman walked into Haverfordwest Police Station and surrendered himself. He was arrested at the front desk. It is not known how long he had been in Pembrokeshire before handing himself in.

Lifetime registration

Swansea Crown Court heard that Spelman had previously been jailed for seven years in 2014 for sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14.

That conviction placed him on the sex offenders register for life, requiring him to notify police of his address and report any changes within three days.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson told the court that after his most recent release from a Dorset prison on July 4, 2025, Spelman made it clear he would not provide an address, immediately putting himself in breach of the law.

When he failed to contact officers, a formal manhunt began.

The court also heard this was not the first time he had vanished. Following an earlier release in 2016, he similarly failed to register and remained at large for around five years before being located.

‘Unusual case’

Defence barrister Andrew Evans described the matter as “unusual”, telling the court that Spelman disputes his original conviction and has long expressed a desire to live outside society.

However, he said the defendant had now accepted that, regardless of his personal views, he remained bound by a court order and must comply with it.

Evans added that Spelman had asked the court to impose a custodial sentence to allow time for proper accommodation and supervision to be arranged for his eventual release.

Sentencing, Judge Geraint Walters said there were signs Spelman wished to change but warned that any future breaches would lead to longer prison terms.

Spelman, who has 11 previous convictions covering 29 offences, pleaded guilty to failing to comply with the notification requirements.

With credit for his guilty plea, he was jailed for ten months. He will serve up to half that time in custody before being released on licence.