All 400 branches of collapsed retailer Wilko are to close at the start of October with the “likely” loss of all 12,500 jobs at the chain, according to GMB.
The union said it was informed of the development by administrators PwC on Monday morning.
GMB said this meant it was now “likely” all Wilko’s staff would now be made redundant.
It comes after Sky News previously revealed that a the rescue deal involving the owner of HMV had collapsed.
PwC declined to comment.
Wilko – owned by the founding Wilkinson family for decades – collapsed into administration last month.
Nadine Houghton, GMB national officer, described it as the “death knell” for the discount homeware brand.
She said: “Wilko was far more than a brand, a retailer or the products it sold, it was the thousands of loyal team members who now face an uncertain future.
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“Wilko may have ceased to be a family brand many years ago, but the staff kept Wilko’s true family ethos alive to the end. It is the family that the Wilko colleagues have created for themselves that will be missed the most.”
She added: “This is not a tragedy without cause. Wilko should have thrived in an otherwise strong low-cost retail sector, but it was run into the ground by the business owners…. No worker caused Wilko’s downfall.
“But they will be the ones who will suffer – all as the owners get off scot-free. GMB will not stop campaigning for the owners of this debacle to be held to account.”
B&M European Value Detail has already agreed to buy 51 Wilko stores which is set to be rebranded. It is unclear whether the discount chain will continue or rehire any of the Wilko staff at the branches.
PwC has previously announced around 1,600 redundancies and confirmed that 52 stores would close this week after failing to find a buyer for the businesses.
The following stores will be closed on Tuesday 12 September:
Acton
Aldershot
Barking
Bishop Auckland
Bletchley FF
Brownhills
Camberley
Cardiff Bay Retail Park
Falmouth
Harpurhey
Irvine
Liverpool Edge Lane
Llandudno
Lowestoft
Morley
Nelson
Port Talbot
Putney
Stafford
Tunbridge Wells
Wakefield
Weston-super-Mare
Westwood Cross
Winsford
The following stores will close on Thursday 14 September:
Ashford
Avonmeads
Banbury
Barrow in Furness
Basildon
Belle Vale
Burnley (relocation)
Clydebank
Cortonwood
Dagenham
Dewsbury
Eccles
Folk stone
Great Yarmouth
Hammersmith
Huddersfield
Morriston
New Malden
Nordskjolde
Queen Street Cardiff
Rhyl
Southampton-West Quay
St Austell
Stockport
Truro
Uttoxeter
Walsall
Woking