A Marks & Spencer worker who leaked the retailer’s plans to cut redundancy terms for more than 60,000 staff has been suspended, reports The Times.

The employee has worked for the store for 25 years and faces a disciplinary hearing on Monday - when the new rules will be enforced - according to the union GMB.

Maria Ludkin, GMB head of legal affairs, told the newspaper: “They’re acting as though he’s responsible for stealing the Colonel’s secret recipe. He’s only aired widely held views and concerns about the changes being proposed. They are being very hard-nosed about the whole thing.”

Last week The Times revealed the retailer’s plans to cut redundancy pay by up to 25 per cent, leading to fears across the business of substantial job losses.

But M&S has said the new terms would still leave M&S employees with a good redundancy package compared to others on the high street.

This is the second time this year that the GMB has taken issue with M&S, after the announcement from Northern Foods in May that it was closing a ready meals factory with the loss of 730 jobs after failing to agree a new supply deal with the retailer.

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