HIGH street giant Marks & Spencer has come out fighting after announcing plans to cut staff's premium payments for working Sundays and bank holidays.

As revealed in later editions of the Daily Echo yesterday, Britain's biggest clothing retailer, which has its flagship store at Hedge End, near Southampton, announced the contractual changes at the same time as it revealed profits were rising.

The changes affect at least 916 store assistants in Southampton, Fareham and Winchester.

Retail union Usdaw was inundated with calls from staff after they learned of the company's intention to reduce the hourly rate from double time to one-and-a-half times.

M&S admitted the premium working rates would be cut from next spring, at the start of the new financial year, to bring the company into line with rivals.

But the organisation insisted that staff will be better off because of a reward package being brought in from next month.

They include a three per cent wage rise, a paid day off for all staff - known internally as a "celebration day" - and two extra days' holidays for those with two years' or more service.

Free shares - worth £3 each - are also being made available to workers with a year or more service.

A M&S spokesman said: "Double time was completely out of line with the market.

"We are increasing the basic rate of pay, which is the key part of people's reward packages."

However, Usdaw deputy general secretary John Hannett, who is seeking a meeting with senior management, said: "It's clear staff at M&S are very unhappy about what's happening to them."

M&S employs 564 people at Hedge End, 182 at WestQuay, Southampton, 100 at Winchester and 70 in Fareham.