GMB Union and workers for mattress manufacturer Airsprung Group PLC recently conducted a protest to highlight employee issues.

The demonstration took place on 20 June 2025 outside Sainsbury’s supermarket in Melksham, which includes an Argos store that sells Airsprung products.

The union said that Airsprung has made “a number of changes to employee terms and conditions”, which the union believes is a way to avoid paying national living wage, adding that the company has attempted to “de-recognise” the union.

Andy Newman, GMB branch secretary, said in a statement: “GMB really wants the Airsprung Group to succeed, but they need to work with their staff to find solutions, and many of their current troubles are due to poor management decisions.

“The Company needs to realise that their skilled and loyal staff are an asset with lots of experience, and that GMB their union, provides a professional and problem solving mechanism for the staff and management to engage with each other.

“Refusing to now talk to GMB, after years of successful partnership, is a bad error, and GMB will continue to protest at Airsprung’s customers Argos and Furniture Village, until Airsprung see sense.”

A skilled Airsprung worker also commented: “The GMB Union membership is a selection of Airsprung’s own staff who are actively engaged in the wellbeing of the company. To disengage with us, especially in this time of trials, is not going to help. There are very few practical ways for staff to tell truth to power.

“Without truth, all decisions will be made on suspect data. Steering the Airsprung Group through the present economic downturn is a tough enough job already, at least let the workforce help. We, too, have a vested interest in keeping the company fit for the future.”

Airsprung was contacted for comment ahead of publication.