Union says Sports Direct needs to tackle "Victorian" work practices

By

Cajsa Lykke Carlson

Published
Aug 10, 2015

Work practices at UK sportswear giant Sports Direct's Shirebrook headquarters and warehouse in Derbyshire have been described as "Victorian" by union Unite.

Unite urges Sports Direct to move zero hours agency workers in Shirebrook onto permanent contracts, and pay the real living wage of £7.85 per hour. Out of the 3,000 plus workers at the depot, just 300 have permanent contracts with Sports Direct.

The company also runs a ‘six strikes and you’re out’ disciplinary procedure, which has been described as ‘draconian’ and likened to a ‘workhouse’ by the union.

Unite regional officer Luke Primarolo said: “Agency workers on zero hours contracts are being subjected to working conditions at Sports Direct that are more akin to a workhouse than a FTSE 100 company.

“These Victorian era work practices where workers eke out minimum wage living in constant fear of losing their job have no place in 21st Century Britain.

“Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct is generating massive profits and can well afford to wean itself off a business model built on low pay and exploitative zero hours contracts."

Sports Direct's latest figures showed a 7.4% increase in gross profit to £1.15bn.