Zero-hour contract protests at Sports Direct and Primark

Samuel Taylor-Wickenden

24-hour delivery, zero-hour contracts (Click to enlarge)

On 3 and 7 August, Plymouth Youth Fight for Jobs supporters campaigned against zero-hour contracts with Sports Direct, along with other shops in the city centre including Subway, Primark, TK Max and Holland & Barretts, targeted for leafleting.

The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development's poll of 1,000 employers revealed that nearly one million workers are on such contracts.

Zero-hour contracts are renowned for offering no guarantee of work, giving workers no holiday or sick pay and workers have to ask before they can seek additional work elsewhere.

The 'Sick of Your Boss' initiative organised by Youth Fight for Jobs, which also saw protests in London, Glasgow and Leeds, informs workers of their existing legal rights and helps them to join trade unions so they may organise and fight for decent pay and conditions.

Because of nationwide protesting, Sports Direct hired security, who refused to confirm if they were on zero-hour contracts! A few activists were kicked out of Sports Direct for disseminating information on the staff's own rights.

It shows the extent to which the workers are bullied and want to avoid confrontation with their employers at all costs.

It is not surprising that workers fear for their jobs, as if a worker protests then they could face a reduction in hours or simply be fired.

But organised workers who know their rights can fight for better jobs, pay and conditions. Youth Fight for Jobs Plymouth is organising further events and protests to talk to workers and customers on scandalous use of zero-hour contracts by companies like Sports Direct and others.

See more protest reports at youthfightforjobs.com

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