Ashley: Contempt charges

Billionaire Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley faces contempt of parliament charges if he now fails to turn up to face MPs on June 7.

MPs investigating mistreatment of his workers wish to question him on his ‘draconian’ style working conditions.

The business, innovation and skills (BIS) committee have been trying to arrange a date for him to give evidence to them over allegations of widespread abuses at his company.

Committee chairman Iain Wright said they were still to receive a formal response from Ashely, who also owns Newcastle United.

“Business leaders and others regularly appear in front of select committees when invited and we see no reason why Mr Ashley should expect to be exempt from the normal parliamentary process,” said Iain Wright.

Ashley branded MPs ‘a joke’ and confirmed he will not give evidence in parliament about how his workers are treated instead suggesting MPs visit his Shirebrook warehouse.

MPs want to hear how Ashley’s internal review of working conditions for agency workers at the firm are progressing.

Shamed

 

Unite has been campaigning tirelessly to improve working conditions at Sports Direct.

Most recently there was a national day of action with 30 coordinated protests up and down the country while reps and activists handed in a 20,000 strong petition to the companies Shirebrook head office.

In September Unite members dressed in Victorian costumes to represent the company’s ‘Dickensian’ working practices and targeted its annual general meeting (AGM) while more protests took place outside 40 Sports Direct stores.

Last December, Sports Direct was shamed in an undercover report into their Shirebrook warehouse.

The report echoes Unite’s claims of ‘draconian’ discipline policies that sees staff disciplined or fired for even minor occurrences.

The disclosures from the undercover investigation prompted the Institute of Directors to brand the company a ‘scar on British business’.

Ashely says he will challenge the order and that the BIS committee only cares “about the business of politics, while I actually care about the people at Sports Direct”.

“Unite is the union for Sports Direct workers, and we hear every day direct from our members just how much Mike Ashley cares about his workers,” said Luke Primarolo, Unite regional officer.

“He cares so much about what they’re doing every minute of the day that Sports Direct track their every move – how fast they’re working, how long they spend in the loo – and shames them over a tannoy if they’re going too slow,” he added.

Hugely profitable

Sports Direct is a hugely profitable company which doesn’t need to subject its workforce to such shameful practices. Latest figures show a 7.4 per cent increase in gross profit to £1.155bn.

“Mike Ashely cares so much about how comfortable his workers are that Sports Direct specify a list of 802 banned clothing brands for staff – and searches them down to their underwear every shift,” said Luke.

“He cares so much about their work-life balance that Sports Direct keeps 80 per cent of their workers on zero-hours contracts, unable to plan their home and family lives from week to week,” he added.

Labour MP Dennis Skinner, who described Ashley as a ‘monster of a man’, said Ashely ‘believes, as a billionaire, that he can do as he likes.’

Ashely has said his intention is not to attend Westminster on June 7 as he believes the proposal by Iain Wright MP is an abuse of the parliamentary process.

“Unite, and our members working in Sports Direct want to see Mike Ashley appearing in London on the 7 June, and we want to see the government taking stronger action against Sports Direct,” said Luke.

“Every worker has the right to be treated fairly and with respect in their workplace. It’s time for Ashley’s cowboy approach to running Sports Direct to stop,” he added.

Ashely has claimed that the scrutiny of his company’s practices are damaging its sales at the expense of profit. Check UNITElive for more on this story.

For information on Unite’s Sports Direct campaign visit our website