The Boohoo site was rebranded as Debenhams earlier this year, after shareholder approval, and has long been the subject of controversy over the failure to recognise Usdaw as the trade union for staff working there. The online fashion retailer had promised MPs, when appearing in front of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee, that they would engage with Usdaw, but the company continues to refuse to recognise the union, leaving staff without a real voice at work.
Amanda Bailey-Coll – Usdaw regional secretary for the North West says: “Our members are shocked and devastated by today’s announcement that Debenhams Group plan to close the former Boohoo site in Burnley and move operations to Sheffield. We are urging the company to allow the staff to have a proper voice through this very difficult and distressing process, by engaging with Usdaw to ensure our members are treated with fairness and dignity.
“For some years, we have been seeking a dialogue with Boohoo, now Debenhams, to enable us to represent our members’ concerns. We have been met with a wall of silence from management and staff have been told in no uncertain terms not to engage with the union. The staff are now facing the fight of their lives and that is why they need the support and expertise of an independent trade union.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is one of the fastest growing unions in the TUC and the UK's fifth biggest trade union with around 360,000 members. Most Usdaw members work in the retail sector, but the union also has many members in transport, distribution, food manufacturing, chemical industry and other trades www.usdaw.org.uk
House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee: The cross-party MPs’ report into fashion industry sustainability specifically 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: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion