Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Women's Views on News

Women's Views on News

Union’s new campaign for decent work

Posted: 14 Dec 2015 12:27 PM PST

UNITE, Sports Direct, decent work for all, campaign, HMRC,Decent work is a human right.

Carol singers targeted Sports Direct stores recently to highlight Sports Direct's 'scrooge-like' working practices amid calls for HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) to investigate the non-payment of the national minimum wage at the retailer's Shirebrook warehouse in Derbyshire.

The call, from Britain's largest union, Unite, and the 12 December action in towns and cities across the UK, came after a Guardian investigation found that extra, unpaid time taken for “rigorous” compulsory searches meant workers were paid less than the minimum wage.

Likening working conditions in the Sports Direct warehouse to a 'gulag', the investigation also found that workers were being docked wages for arriving as little as one minute late for work.

Singing specially adapted carols outside stores in Mansfield, Leicester, Cambridge, Norwich, London, Truro, Bridgewater and North Wales faith groups, campaigners and Unite community members highlighted Sports Direct's 'Dickensian' work practices.

Sports Direct has come under fire repeatedly for its use of low paid, zero-hours contracts and agency staff at the Shirebrook site where workers work in fear of a ‘six strikes and you're out’ rule.

Under this rule workers can receive a ‘strike’ for a range of ‘offences’, including taking too long in the toilet, chatting too much or being off sick.

Decent work is a human right and Unite the Union seeks to give workers a voice on matters that affect those at work.

And on the grounds that by standing together and campaigning we can win decent work for all Unite is campaigning for 5 things that make work ‘decent for all‘:

1. A wage you can live on

We all need a pay rise – and joining a trade union is the best way to win one. Trade union workplaces get 7 per cent better pay than those without trade unions.

2. Safe, secure work

All workers should be treated with dignity, in work that does not harm your health with workplace rights from the day you start work. Trade unions ensure you can enforce these rights when you need to.

3. Guaranteed hours each week

Too often flexible working just means insecurity. The use of forced zero and short-hours contracts needs to stop! We can win better contracts by organising and campaigning together

4. Training, development and career opportunities

We need positive routes into work, with training and development at work and not forced free labour on pain of losing benefits. Instead, we should have proper apprenticeships.

5. A collective voice and union representation

Organising together means strength in numbers as people act together in trade unions at work. Without this things like your pay and contract are just decided by your employer.

For more information about how to support the #FightFor5 campaign and win decent work for all, click here.

Commenting on the issues workers at Sports Direct face, Unite's assistant general secretary Steve Turner said: " 'Gulag' working conditions have no place in 21st century Britain.

"The Sports Direct board should be ashamed that its workforce is treated in such an appalling way.

"Unpaid searches and the docking of pay are potentially illegal and a scandal that could cause Sports Direct reputational damage.

"We are currently consulting with lawyers and would encourage Sports Direct workers at Shirebrook to contact Unite to pursue potential legal action and damages.

"In the meantime HMRC should not shrink from doing the right thing and should investigate Sports Direct as a matter of priority."

And Unite's regional officer Luke Primarolo added: "The majority of the workers at the Shirebrook depot are on precarious agency contracts, which while not illegal, make it virtually impossible for them to challenge unfair treatment for fear of losing their job.

"The culture of fear at Sport Direct's Shirebrook depot is more akin to a workhouse than a FTSE 100 company.

"It needs to change with agency workers being given permanent contracts by Sports Direct and paid a decent wage."

Join the fight for decent work – pay you can live on; guaranteed hours; safe, secure work; training and career opportunities and a union voice #Fightfor5 #decentwork4all