... but council urges them to talk with union
JD Sports has been urged to rethink its decision to cut shift workers’ rest breaks after life at its Rochdale warehouse was likened to ‘a prison sentence.’
Rochdale council has backed a motion calling on the firm to open talks with the Usdaw union with a view to ‘immediately reversing’ its decision.
It also wants the company to agree to Usdaw’s long-standing request for the company to enter into a trade union recognition agreement.
A motion moved by
Coun John Blundell at a full meeting of Rochdale council states the reduction in the number of breaks is a ‘clear contravention’ of the Health and Safety Executive’s advice.
This recommends more frequent breaks in repetitive, physical work in order to avoid fatiguerelated accidents.
It adds: “This council does not want to see several thousand workers at one of Rochdale’s major employers put in danger by the imposition of such an ill-judged change to terms and conditions of employment.”
But while Coun Blundell said he welcomed large firms creating jobs in the borough - he stressed they must provide fair working conditions. Addressing the town hall meeting he said: “This work must be hard enough but to make it four hours without a toilet break, no water break, you are standing there you are essentially treated like a commodity.”
The motion was carried on Labour votes - but opposition parties were not convinced it was the right move.
Liberal Democrat leader Andy Kelly said he supported unions, but involving the council in every workplace dispute could end up clogging up council agendas to the detriment of other issues.
“If we pass this now are we expected to get involved in the next one and the next one?” he said.
Tory counterpart, Coun Ashley Dearnley, said: “Targeting a business that’s in this borough, that’s providing employment and we want to see expand is the wrong message to send out,” he said. But Labour stood firm. Coun Danny Meredith said workers’ rights were an issue for the council, despite the Conservatives’ Coun Jane Howard describing the motion as ‘inappropriate’ and ‘meddling.’
He said: “Yes, I think we should get involved with every single issue that goes on. It means that people in Rochdale, - especially the people paid on that living low wage - we need to get involved and get the best for people in our society.”
Coun Shakil Ahmed, who represents Kingsway ward, branded working conditions at the site ‘absolutely disgusting.’
He added: “A big, huge company that treats people like this - there are not even windows- it’s more like a prison sentence at JD
Sports’ warehouse.”
‘Disappointed’ JD Sports bosses said the matter of union recognition was not one that involved the council - but confirmed all shift patterns were to be reviewed in the new year.
The firm says the ‘overwhelming consensus’ of visitors to its Kingsway site - including MPs and councillors - has been that it ‘makes a significant and positive contribution to the local community.’
Bosses also point to the fact the British Safety Council has rated the distribution centre as ‘excellent’ in each of the past three years.