Sports Direct Working people near death...

[audidoody]

Last time I voted with my feet they threw me out of the polling booth.

[FredClogs]

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

ha ha, yes indeed, perhaps - or maybe we shoudl just all be rich enough to not have to work in Sports Direct - that would work to?

[Digga]

FredClogs said:

ha ha, yes indeed, perhaps - or maybe we shoudl just all be rich enough to not have to work in Sports Direct - that would work to?

What I can see coming is stricter health-screening. There will be people who will never even get a foot in the door at these big warehouses if they do not have a 100% clean bill of health.

[FredClogs]

Murph7355 said:

Fredclogs - any particular reason for posting it? Newcastle fan? Or just a dislike of wealthy people and so even the remotest, faintest whiff of "exploitation" is enough to get you going...?

I'm certainly not a Newcastle fan (the football club not the city) and I have axe to grind with Mike Ashley - but Sports Direct seems to me to be the very worst example of something no one really likes, values or wants but we all just seem to accept because it's a teeny bit cheaper than other shops selling similar stuff.

[PRTVR]

FredClogs said:

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

ha ha, yes indeed, perhaps - or maybe we shoudl just all be rich enough to not have to work in Sports Direct - that would work to?

Interesting, how do you make everybody in the EU rich enough not to need jobs in Sports Direct?

[FredClogs]

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

ha ha, yes indeed, perhaps - or maybe we shoudl just all be rich enough to not have to work in Sports Direct - that would work to?

Interesting, how do you make everybody in the EU rich enough not to need jobs in Sports Direct?

I was being sarcastic.

How do you tell someone "You're not allowed to go and work at that place that needs staff because you weren't born close enough to it, and by restricting your physical freedom we're able to create a false market with artificially high pricing"?

I tell you what Mike Ashley would do, he'd build his distribution centre closer to the poor people who needed jobs - that's what Mike Ashley would do, because Mike Ashley isn't as daft as us, he doesn't waste time talking bks on the internet.

[Digga]

FredClogs said:

I tell you what Mike Ashley would do, he'd build his distribution centre closer to the poor people who needed jobs - that's what Mike Ashley would do, because Mike Ashley isn't as daft as us, he doesn't waste time talking bks on the internet.

You're right.

And if he or SD gets too much heat because unfit people are falling down in him warehouses he'll simply switch to banning anyone not perfectly healthy from ever setting foot in the places. There's enough labour supply for the big firms to be selective.

[Jasandjules]

FredClogs said:

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there

The DWP will be applauding their conduct...

[Scuffers]

FredClogs said:

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

ha ha, yes indeed, perhaps - or maybe we shoudl just all be rich enough to not have to work in Sports Direct - that would work to?

Interesting, how do you make everybody in the EU rich enough not to need jobs in Sports Direct?

I was being sarcastic.

How do you tell someone "You're not allowed to go and work at that place that needs staff because you weren't born close enough to it, and by restricting your physical freedom we're able to create a false market with artificially high pricing"?

I tell you what Mike Ashley would do, he'd build his distribution centre closer to the poor people who needed jobs - that's what Mike Ashley would do, because Mike Ashley isn't as daft as us, he doesn't waste time talking bks on the internet.

Hold on a moment!

so you don't see the link between low pay and over-supply of cheap (migrant) labour as anything to do with this situation?

Really?

[KarlMac]

The whole reason that centre exists where it does is because its slap bang in the middle of ex-minig territory. There is a lack of industry coupled with an excess of low skilled labour (or the skill they do have is no longer required)

My old firm used to share a 'catchment' area with Sports Direct, we struggled to retain our better staff due to what SD were offering.

Another thing the article doesn't cover is the mentality of the people from langwith/shirebrook. Although the union mob are pretty militant, they enjoy a hard graft and it takes quite a major injury to keep them from work. Sending people home for minor illness was a weekly occurance for us because most of the lads just wanted to work.

[TurboHatchback]

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

RACIST!!!





No that wasn't serious (for the comprehensionally challenged)

[FredClogs]

Scuffers said:

FredClogs said:

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

ha ha, yes indeed, perhaps - or maybe we shoudl just all be rich enough to not have to work in Sports Direct - that would work to?

Interesting, how do you make everybody in the EU rich enough not to need jobs in Sports Direct?

I was being sarcastic.

How do you tell someone "You're not allowed to go and work at that place that needs staff because you weren't born close enough to it, and by restricting your physical freedom we're able to create a false market with artificially high pricing"?

I tell you what Mike Ashley would do, he'd build his distribution centre closer to the poor people who needed jobs - that's what Mike Ashley would do, because Mike Ashley isn't as daft as us, he doesn't waste time talking bks on the internet.

Hold on a moment!

so you don't see the link between low pay and over-supply of cheap (migrant) labour as anything to do with this situation?

Really?

Lot's of things have something to do with this situation, including dogs, ambulances and vertical integration management in the retail supply chain, (I'd also be interested in what stake - if any - Mike and any associates have in the recruitment agency SD are contracted to if there is an Agency supplying 3000 workers to a single site), I'm not inclined to jump on immigrant labour as the source of all my angst and unhappiness with the world, some people do (you included apparently), that's your prerogative but you might be missing a bigger picture.

[funkyrobot]

wiggy001 said:

AJS- said:

...It also includes a traffic accident and a dog bite, which with the best will in the world can hardly be blamed on "billionaire Mike Ashley" or his Dickensian employment practices.

Unless the dogs are being used to keep the workers in check...

Probably driving vans around the warehouse as it's a long way to walk.

[London424]

FredClogs said:

Murph7355 said:

Fredclogs - any particular reason for posting it? Newcastle fan? Or just a dislike of wealthy people and so even the remotest, faintest whiff of "exploitation" is enough to get you going...?

I'm certainly not a Newcastle fan (the football club not the city) and I have axe to grind with Mike Ashley - but Sports Direct seems to me to be the very worst example of something no one really likes, values or wants but we all just seem to accept because it's a teeny bit cheaper than other shops selling similar stuff.

I do enjoy the irony of "something no one really likes, values or wants" and Billionaire owner Mike Ashley in the same paragraph.

[Scuffers]

FredClogs said:

Lot's of things have something to do with this situation, including dogs, ambulances and vertical integration management in the retail supply chain, (I'd also be interested in what stake - if any - Mike and any associates have in the recruitment agency SD are contracted to if there is an Agency supplying 3000 workers to a single site), I'm not inclined to jump on immigrant labour as the source of all my angst and unhappiness with the world, some people do (you included apparently), that's your prerogative but you might be missing a bigger picture.

and just what is the bigger picture here?

[crankedup]

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

Even our Home Secretary alluded to this problem in her speech at the Tory Conference yesterday. Although in fairness she stopped short of the 'close to edge of legality', certainly Companies have taken full advantage of the cheap labour that has flooded the market in recent years. Government now reads, correctly imo, that the tide of public perception is against such cheap labour suppressing wages and conditions of employment improvements. Not to mention the strain and cost upon the National infrastructure.

[PRTVR]

crankedup said:

PRTVR said:

FredClogs said:

I wouldn't shop there myself, a mild case of claustrophobia gripped me once caught between some Lonsdale hoodies and a rack of cheap Donnay golf umbrellas and I've never been back.

But would the suggestion that staff are going to work with life threatening illnesses put anyone off shopping there or do we think that this is the price others have to pay in these times of austerity to enable us to get those all important vertically integrated brands we desire...?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-34178412

From reports a lot of the employees in the warehouse were from abroad, one could argue that the free movement of labour has created this situation, a surplus of cheap labour allows companies to run close to the edge of legality, if there were less people available they would have to give better terms and conditions to keep the staff.

Even our Home Secretary alluded to this problem in her speech at the Tory Conference yesterday. Although in fairness she stopped short of the 'close to edge of legality', certainly Companies have taken full advantage of the cheap labour that has flooded the market in recent years. Government now reads, correctly imo, that the tide of public perception is against such cheap labour suppressing wages and conditions of employment improvements. Not to mention the strain and cost upon the National infrastructure.

I think she or one of her advisors lurks this site, she has commented on subjects that have been discussed on here, with some of the comments borrowed, the problem with her is she is a politician and as has been said she talks the talk but does she walk the walk? She was responsible for cuts in the immigration service,that is not the action of somebody who is strong on immigration.

[anonymous-user]

Back to back, pre-pack.
Zero hours contracts.
None of these seem like terms that are conducive to long-term, honest and sustainable business that benefits society.

[untakenname]

Odd how in the space of a year the've gone from one of the best company for non graduates to work for to the worst, this headline here from the start of the year about them sharing £34 million with the floor staff with an average bonus of 11k http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/sports-direct...

iirc a couple of years back they gave a thousand cashiers a 100k bonus or something insane like that as well.

[russ_a]

I currently work on a site with 3000 people don't think I have seen an ambulance once. Nobody has given birth in the loo's either.

The warehouse is largely staffed by eastern europeans and tannoy announcements are in polish first. A few hundred of the locals arranged a demonstration due to the anti-social behavior of a small majority of the staff drinking & fighting in the town centre.

http://www.chad.co.uk/news/local/video-shirebrook-...

I've nothing against people coming from other countries to get a better life for their family. I'd do the same.