Morrisons is set to increase hourly pay for its customer assistants to £13.00 from July 20, 2026, marking the second pay rise for the supermarket chain in 2026. The move follows a pay deal announced in May, which was approved by the USDAW union that negotiates on behalf of a large portion of Morrisons' workforce.
Three-Phase Pay Increase
The pay rise is being implemented in three phases. The first phase, backdated to March 30, 2026, saw hourly rates for all customer assistants increase to £12.81, with other eligible roles receiving a 10p uplift. The second phase, effective from July 20, will raise customer assistant pay from £12.81 to £13.00, while other established hourly rates will increase by 19p. The final phase, scheduled for October 26, 2026, will see the hourly rate rise from £13.00 to £13.11, with other roles receiving an 11p increase.
One-Off Payment for Eligible Staff
In addition to the hourly pay increases, Morrisons announced that all eligible hourly-paid colleagues will receive a one-off fixed payment ranging from £25 to £175, depending on their contractual hours. Jodie Keating, group people director of Morrisons, said: “We’re pleased that we can now implement the pay proposal and increase pay for our colleagues to reward them for the contribution they make to our business. I would like to thank all our colleagues for everything they continue to do for Morrisons.”
Competitive Retail Landscape
Morrisons is not alone in raising wages. Other major UK supermarkets have also increased pay to attract and retain staff amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures. Sainsbury's introduced a 5% above-inflation pay increase in March, raising hourly pay to £13.23 nationally and £14.54 in London. Lidl increased hourly pay for store assistants outside London to £13.45, with rates rising to £14.00 based on service length; in London, entry-level pay rose to £14.80, with experienced staff earning up to £15.35. Aldi raised its national hourly rate to £13.50, with those inside the M25 receiving £14.88; these rates increase to £14.47 and £15.20 respectively with service.
