SHOP stewards representing 8,500 workers at Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices supermarkets meet tomorrow to decide what action to take in the wake of management's refusal to give staff a share of the £640 million paid by Tesco for the group.

There is a danger that employees in some branches may take unofficial action, according to informed sources, because of the level of anger.

The unions may decide to ballot members for industrial action against the new owners, Tesco UK.

Talks between Power Supermarkets, the Irish holding company for the supermarket chains, and the unions representing staff, Mandate and SIPTU, broke down yesterday. Afterwards, Mandate's national official, Mr John Douglas, said: "Their [management's] outright rejection of the staff's claim is in marked contrast to Tesco's behaviour in the UK, where £32 million sterling was made available for profit sharing."