Usdaw represents workers at Boohoo’s warehouse and call centre in Burnley, along with those at the head office in Manchester, but the company continues to refuse to recognise the union, leaving staff without a real voice at work.
 
Usdaw urges Boohoo to not only clean up their supply chain, but also engage with the union to help repair their reputation and ensure their own staff are treated with fairness and respect, a promise they made to the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.
 
Mike Aylward – Usdaw Regional Secretary for the North West says: “We totally understand why shareholders have deep concerns about Boohoo’s reputation; after fast-fashion links with garment manufacturers who exploit workers and reportedly paid as little as £3.50 per hour were exposed. Sorting the supply chain is important and the company also promised MPs they would engage with Usdaw, but that is yet to happen.
 
“It is very disappointing that Boohoo has not made any progress on working with Usdaw since the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee found, over two years ago, that: ‘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 suggest that Boohoo would go a long way towards repairing their damaged reputation by meeting with Usdaw and engaging in a positive relationship. This is something that has been consistently called for by MPs and local councillors. They need to clearly show their employees, customers and the communities they operate in that Boohoo is serious about becoming an ethical trader.”
 
Notes for editors:
 
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is the UK's fifth biggest trade union with over 400,000 members. Membership has increased by more than one-third over the last couple of decades. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemicals and other trades.
 
House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee - Interim Report on Fixing fashion: clothing consumption and sustainability: A cross-party MPs’ report into fashion industry sustainability specifically recommended that Boohoo recognises Usdaw as the union for their staff. The House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee said: “We recommend that Boohoo engage with Usdaw as a priority and recognise unions for its workers.” https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201719/cmselect/cmenvaud/1952/1952.pdf

For Usdaw press releases visit: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion