Union in protest over Sports Direct’s zero hours contracts

Members of the Unite union came together to protest against zero hours contracts at Sports Direct in Nottingham.

Gathering at the Clumber Street store in the city centre, protesters dressed in Victorian period costumes to highlight what they called ‘Dickensian’ work ethics at the company.

Richard Buckwell, assistant branch secretary of Nottingham Unite Community Branch said: “We want people to have guaranteed wages each week, proper contracts, and get holiday pay, sick pay and all the rights one should expect in the 21st century.”

“One of our colleagues has come dressed in Victorian gear because their employment practices reek of the 19th century.”

The demonstrators will also stage a protest later this afternoon at Sports Direct’s headquarters in Shirebrook, Derbyshire where the company bosses are today holding their Annual General Meeting (AGM).

Unite claims that more than 3000 people employed at the main warehouse in Shirebrook are on zero hours contracts through employment agencies.

Representatives of the union will also attend the AGM to demand the end of zero hours contracts and to ask the retailer to raise their employee living wage to £7.85.

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Picture: Members of the Unite union gathered outside the store on Clumber Street to protest ‘Victorian’ employment practices

Colin Hind, Chairman of Unite Community in Nottingham said: “We’re here today to protest Sports Direct’s Victorian work practices and their heavy reliance on zero hours contracts.

“We want to get Sports Direct staff to join Unite and then we can force their bosses into negotiating with us to improve regular wages.”

Undercover filming by Channel 4’s Despatches programme earlier this year revealed that staff at Sports Direct’s depot in Derbyshire are subjected to a ‘six strikes policy’, whereby they are given six chances before being dismissed.

The programme’s investigations found staff were receiving penalties for taking long toilet breaks, making errors or being ill – and staff were even being singled out over a tannoy system for not working hard enough.

Beth, one of the demonstrators, who has been on a zero hours contract said: “I think it’s disgraceful that people are on zero hours contracts – if someone can ring you the morning you are meant to work, to tell you there isn’t the work for you, then you can’t plan on paying rent, or rely on your wages to sustain you.”

Notts TV News have contacted Sports Direct for further comment and are awaiting a response.