Dignity and respect

Unite Scotland community and young members have intensified their campaign against Sports Direct calling for decent work for all.

Members recently marched through Fife, Dundee, Renfrewshire and Ayrshire to spread the word about Sports Direct’s employment practices.

Today (February 5) they took the heart of Glasgow as well, including notable landmarks – The Kelpies near Falkirk, and Forth Rail Bridge outside Edinburgh.

Union activists demonstrated in front of Glasgow’s council HQ, in George Square, in the rain with their giant #SportsDirectShame banner in order to drum up support for their ‘Fight For Five’ campaign.

Backed by local councillors as well as Lothians MSP, Neil Findlay, union members are calling for the implementation of five key demands: decent wages, guaranteed hours, safe and secure working conditions, career opportunities and union representation.

Unite Scotland’s community coordinator, Jamie Caldwell, said they’d received “a massive boost in public support” in their fight against “the shameful practices of Sports Direct.

“We will work constantly to make the case to Mike Ashley and Sports Direct that they must stop the use of zero hours contacts and treat staff with dignity and respect.”

Others explained why they’d been taking part.

Chris Trestrail, a hotel worker in Aberdeen and Unite Young member said, “We’re protesting against zero hours contracts being used by Sports Direct as they are unfair and exploitative.

“I believe all people deserve a decent and stable job, young people aren’t getting a fair start in life because of zero hour contracts giving them no stability to plan for the future.”

“Sports Direct employment practices are horrendous. They have exploited workers and are taking millions of pounds a year at the expense of some of the poorest workers in the UK. This needs to be stopped and replaced with a transparent system which is based on income equality,” said Roza Salih – Vice Chair of Unite Scotland Youth Committee.

 
Vijay Jackson, Student Unite Community, said,“Sports Direct has an appalling record as one of the worst employers in the country. From a heavy reliance on zero hour contracts in stores, to shocking and inhumane working conditions in their warehouses.

 
“It’s time to take Sports Direct to task for their poor practices. Unite Community will build on our previous successful campaigns to make sure that every worker gets a fair deal, and that every potential customer is fully aware of the sheer scale of exploitation within the company.”