HUNDREDS of angry Asda workers risked arrest after protesting against the enforcement of a “draconian” new contract.

GMB members employed by the supermarket giant marched through Leeds city centre to the company’s headquarters today afternoon.

The workers were protesting against Asda management’s plan to impose so-called “contract six” on the workforce.

The new paperwork states that all Asda workers may have to work on bank holidays and are no longer entitled to rest breaks.

In response to entrenched workplace opposition, Asda’s management has said that all staff who do not sign the contracts by November 2 will be sacked.

Bosses have issued 120,000 employees with leaflets advising them how to look for other jobs once they have been made unemployed.

These strong-arm tactics have infuriated workers who delivered a petition in a shopping trolley to Asda headquarters today, signed by 23,000 people.

Local police warned that Asda had expressed their concerns about workers trespassing on their headquarters, forcing the shopping trolley to be handed over away from the building itself.

The protest became heated between workers and police, who shouted that anybody who stepped on Asda’s property would be arrested.

Speaking to the workers, GMB general secretary Tim Roache said: “I don’t understand the police attitude.

“We’ve been in debate with them all week. The first thing they said to us when we turned up was that if we encroach on Asda territory today then they will arrest us.

“Really? We are talking about a bunch of decent people who are fighting for fairness and respect. If the police want to arrest anybody, they start with me.”

Mr Roache said Asda management had initially assured him contract six would be a voluntary agreement, before reneging on that pledge and announcing plans to make it compulsory.

The union leader warned: “If people think that this is our last hurrah, and that November 2 is the end, then they’ve got another think coming.

“That is just the start of a next phase of battle ... We will never agree to the imposition of contract six, this contract that says ‘sign up or you’re sacked’. We will never accept that.”

Asda is Britain’s second-largest supermarket chain after Tesco, and is owned by the notoriously anti-union US conglomerate Walmart.

The company’s directors pocketed a whopping £12 million last year — and profits rocketed more than £92 million — while getting rid of 5,000 jobs at supermarkets across the country.

GMB organiser and Labour’s Morley and Outwood parliamentary candidate Deanne Ferguson told the Star: “Asda are imposing this draconian contract on a loyal workforce who deserve better, and saying if they don’t sign by November 2 they’re sacked.

“It’s not on and GMB are fighting it all the way.

“One thing is for sure — Asda workers are being heard and this is just the start of our campaign.”

An Asda spokesperson said: “This contract is an investment of more than £80m and increases real pay for over 100,000 colleagues in return for a level of flexibility that ensures we are able to adapt to the demands of the highly competitive retail industry.

“We have consulted extensively with our colleagues, the GMB and our own national colleague representatives to discuss their concerns and to give reassurances that we will always help them to balance their responsibilities outside of work.

“As a result, the overwhelming majority of colleagues have signed up to this contract.

“We understand that change is never easy, but we are determined that Asda remains a sustainable business for its customers and colleagues — now and in the future.”

West Yorkshire police said: “We were in constant dialogue with the organisers of this demonstration and no reference was made to anyone being arrested.

“The demonstration has now concluded and passed without incident. We aim to balance people’s right to protest with the wider public’s right to go about their daily business.”