Today’s report from the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee concluded: “We recommend that Boohoo engage with Usdaw as a priority and recognise unions for its workers.”

Usdaw has run a sustained campaign for recognition at Boohoo, so that the union can fully represent members, but the company has so far declined to engage. Usdaw activists recently held a successful action day outside the company’s Burnley warehouse, which has over 3,000 staff and is the area’s largest employer.

Mike Aylward – Usdaw Divisional Officer says: “We are pleased that MPs listened to our evidence that countered Boohoo’s assertion that there was no demand for union recognition and we welcome their recommendation for the company to engage with us as a priority.

“It is shameful that large companies like Boohoo won’t recognise Usdaw, even when their employees welcome it. Our members at Boohoo are unhappy with the company’s position and want Usdaw’s support in raising and resolving workplace issues.

“Boohoo staff want the peace of mind that trade union membership offers, alongside a recognition agreement. We hope that the company will now listen to this cross-party committee, as well as their staff, and we look forward to opening talks with Boohoo in the very near future.”

House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee - Interim Report on the Sustainability of the Fashion Industry - Para 28: “At our evidence session with retailers, we questioned the joint Chief Executive, Carol Kane, about union recognition within Boohoo. She told us that Boohoo would recognise a union ‘if the workers would like it’ but that ‘there does not currently appear to be a demand for our workers in our Burnley warehouse to require a union’. Following this session, the union, Usdaw, provided a written submission contesting Boohoo’s evidence. This included a timeline dating back to January 2017 outlining 23 recruitment and awareness activities for Boohoo’s Burnley staff and written communications to Carol Kane and Boohoo’s HR Director to secure union recognition for Boohoo workers.

They said: ‘Overall, it is clear that despite Carol Kane’s assertion to the committee that Boohoo is open to recognising a trade union to represent their workers, the company has, over a prolonged period of time refused even the most basic level of engagement with Usdaw and appears hostile to the very idea of recognising a trade union.’

“We recommend that Boohoo engage with Usdaw as a priority and recognise unions for its workers.”

Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest and the fastest growing trade union with around 430,000 members. Membership has increased by more than 28% over the decade. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion