Struggling supermarket chain Morrisons is to slash 2,600 jobs due to plans to streamline how its stores are managed.
The supermarket is making these changes in a bid to improve the operation of its stores, some of which have seven tiers between the shop floor and the store manager.
It is estimated that 15,000 employees out of their 126,000 workforce will be affected, but most will be moved elsewhere and so only 2,600 would stand to be made redundant.
The changes will involve around 2,600 redundancies, although Morrisons said this year will also see it create 1,000 jobs in its M local convenience stores and an additional 3,000 in new supermarkets.
Chief executive Dalton Philips said: "This is the right time to modernise the way our stores are managed. These changes will improve our focus on customers and lead to simpler, smarter ways of working."
The supermarket will also create 1,000 jobs in Morrisons M local convenience stores and 3,000 in new supermarkets, and will aim to offer affected employees "the opportunity to work in these growing businesses".
Joanne McGuinness, Usdaw's national officer representing Morrisons workers, said: "The next few weeks will be a worrying time for our members in Morrisons and we will do everything possible to support them. Today marks the start of a 45-day consultation period, where we will look in detail at the company's business case.
"Our priority will be to safeguard as many jobs as possible, maximise employment within the business and get the best possible outcome for our members affected by this restructuring.'