Mick Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30066568 Miliband attacks Sports Direct over zero-hours contracts Labour leader Ed Miliband has accused Sports Direct of using Victorian practices for hiring thousands of workers on zero-hours contracts. He told the West Midlands Labour Party conference the firm is a "terrible place to work". Labour claims 17,000 of its 20,000 UK employees are not guaranteed regular hours. Mr Miliband promised to ban "the exploitation of zero-hours contracts". Sports Direct, one of the UK's biggest employers, previously said it was continuing to review "core employment procedures". Zero-hours contracts do not guarantee regular work for employees. Sick pay is often not included although holiday pay should be, in line with working time regulations. 'No security' The BBC's political correspondent Chris Mason said research conducted by Labour concluded that 17,000 of the company's 20,000 employees in the UK were hired on the controversial contracts. Speaking to party members in Coventry, Mr Miliband took aim at what he calls "a zero-zero economy - of zero-hours contracts and zero tax for those at the top". Mr Miliband pledged that, under a Labour government, "if you work regular hours you will have a legal right to a regular contract". Business and Enterprise Minister Matthew Hancock insisted that the government was already taking action. "We're already tackling the abuse of zero-hours contracts - after 13 years of Labour doing absolutely nothing about it," Mr Hancock said. He also accused some Labour councils of continuing to use the contracts. Zero-hours contracts Zero-hours contracts, or casual contracts, allow employers to hire staff with no guarantee of work. They mean employees work only when they are needed by employers, often at short notice. Their pay depends on how often they work. Some zero-hours contracts oblige workers to take the shifts they are offered; others do not. Sick pay is often not included, although holiday pay should be, in line with working time regulations. Focusing on the high street sports chain, the Labour leader said Sports Direct "has predictable turnover, it has big profits but, for too many of its employees, it is a terrible place to work". "We cannot go on with an economy that allows businesses to use zero-hours contracts as the standard way of employing people month after month, year after year." "These Victorian practices have no place in the 21st Century." Sports Direct did not comment on Mr Miliband's remarks, but highlighted a recent statement in which the firm set out changes it was making. A spokesman said: "The company will continue the process of reviewing, updating and improving our core employment documents and procedures across our entire business beyond its existing compliant framework." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ToonTastic Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 From the same party that hires 151 zero hours employees. Has anyone ever actually asked people who work zero hours whether it's a bad thing? Best thing I ever had was working zero hour contracts when at uni. Meant I wasn't forced to work particular days due to contracted hours. Could have full months off if needed without worry about not having a job to go back to. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turnbull2000 Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 What a f*ckin' cretin Millband is. SD is probably one of the few firms where zero-hour contracts are arguably useful to the typical employee e.g. young college/uni students on the shop floor. When I was at Uni 1998-2001) and worked at the Students Union bar , I too was on zero hour contract. Worked great for my circumstances. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bhoywhonder Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 Apropos of nothing, I'm a lifelong Lab voter and most of my family are card-carrying Labour party members. (one grandfather was an actual communist party member before he died....he didn't approve of the current shower!) Milliband is more or less the most insipid, idea-free, p*ss-weak 'leader' we have had in living memory. He was elected in as a protest. And he's made me do the unthinkable, probably abstaining from the next GE. Can anyone imagine him facing down Putin? Its a joke. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted November 15, 2014 Share Posted November 15, 2014 What a f*ckin' cretin Millband is. SD is probably one of the few firms where zero-hour contracts are arguably useful to the typical employee e.g. young college/uni students on the shop floor. When I was at Uni 1998-2001) and worked at the Students Union bar , I too was on zero hour contract. Worked great for my circumstances. You ever been in SD? If they're at uni then god help us all. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 What a f*ckin' cretin Millband is. SD is probably one of the few firms where zero-hour contracts are arguably useful to the typical employee e.g. young college/uni students on the shop floor. When I was at Uni 1998-2001) and worked at the Students Union bar , I too was on zero hour contract. Worked great for my circumstances. Disagree to a degree, zero hours has worked for me previously as well when I did bar work as a student but this is different. I think they have a place in our economy if used properly, in the correct circumstances and with the correct benefits. However, I do not think it is appropriate for such a larger retailer to basically employ all of their front line staff other than management using zero hours contracts, it is manipulation and exploitation of workforce for maximum profit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheHoob Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Plus loads of places which use zero-hour contracts require you to turn up whenever they ask, I've heard of plenty students being asked to go into work when they are meant to have lectures etc. A zero hour contract at somewhere like an SU is obviously going to cater for a students needs, loads won't though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ste Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Yeah, basically you have to be willing to work any day with the right amount of notice. Not a fan of zero hour contracts, I think for a lot of people they don't work, and the zero hour contract show a basic lack of respect for the individual. They can work for the minority but certainly not the majority. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Darth Crooks Posted November 16, 2014 Share Posted November 16, 2014 Double edged swords aren't they and as per they 9 times out of 10 are geared towards the benefit of the employer and not the employee. Same as a lot of the decisions made re Ashley and the fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sempuki Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I doubt it would affect us anyway: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/11257795/Newcastle-and-Rangers-will-not-be-able-to-play-in-Europe-together-next-season-because-of-Mike-Ashley.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Double edged swords aren't they and as per they 9 times out of 10 are geared towards the benefit of the employer and not the employee. Same as a lot of the decisions made re Ashley and the fans. Pretty much 10 times out of 10 I would say. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I doubt it would affect us anyway: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/11257795/Newcastle-and-Rangers-will-not-be-able-to-play-in-Europe-together-next-season-because-of-Mike-Ashley.html Newcastle to sit mid table, bring in the tv revenue, Rangers to get promoted and back in to europe. no problem. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I doubt it would affect us anyway: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/newcastle-united/11257795/Newcastle-and-Rangers-will-not-be-able-to-play-in-Europe-together-next-season-because-of-Mike-Ashley.html It's still a pisstake and is a clear conflict of interest and should not be allowed Spot on, clubs should be run with the aim of being the best in every competition, at least one of us or Rangers can't be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest firetotheworks Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Surely that simply cannot be allowed? Exactly how can any governing body justify that without it being blatantly corrupt? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hanshithispantz Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I hope we finish in a European spot just to hear Pardew's spin on this. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I hope we finish in a European spot just to hear Pardew's spin on this. Why? It's a dream come true for him (and Ashley)... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Toonpack Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Non story for now, the new Rangers can't qualify this year (even if they won the Scottish Cup) due to FFP rules, they don't have enough accounts filed to satisfy the rules. Earliest they would be able to qualify is from next season, even then they might not even get promoted, which would be rather splendid. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I hope we finish in a European spot just to hear Pardew's spin on this. Why? It's a dream come true for him (and Ashley)... is it? i wouldn't have thought Ashley would want us to qualify for Europe. He would want Rangers there, but not us Precisely. Finishing in the Europa spots (higher TV money allocation) without the drawback of having to compete in Europe (and needing a bigger squad to handle more matches/risking relegation due to not being able to handle being in multiple competitions) would be ideal for them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
loki679 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 This fat cunt genuinely must go out of his way to find new ways to crush any flicker of hope or excitement around our club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unbelievable Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I hope we finish in a European spot just to hear Pardew's spin on this. Why? It's a dream come true for him (and Ashley)... is it? i wouldn't have thought Ashley would want us to qualify for Europe. He would want Rangers there, but not us Precisely. Finishing in the Europa spots (higher TV money allocation) without the drawback of having to compete in Europe (and needing a bigger squad to handle more matches/risking relegation due to not being able to handle being in multiple competitions) would be ideal for them. I get what you are saying, but I mean, ti would likely cause extreme supporter unrest, which he doesn't want Very debatable. It's been relatively quiet for the last year or so, but at times you could be forgiven for thinking the exact opposite (SJP renaming, Llambias, Keegan, Carroll, Kinnear). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Big Geordie Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Would there be a case against Ashley for the 'Fit and Proper Person' test, if this ever happens? Surely by doing such a thing he is denying both clubs to compete to the best of their ability? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 Would there be a case against Ashley for the 'Fit and Proper Person' test, if this ever happens? Surely by doing such a thing he is denying both clubs to compete to the best of their ability? Im sure he has already thought of all of this. I dont think he cares enough about football anyway, happy to keep newcastle on the gravy train without achieving anything. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
geordiesteve710 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 If I understand correctly, until Rangers get back into Europe and improve their co-efficient we would go in at their expense regardless of who qualified for which competition, as due to being English and 2012-13 we have a higher co-efficient. By that time Ashley will be long gone I'd imagine. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 I dont think he is going anywhere while nufc gives SD coverage and is bringing in extra wedge. The only hope we have is he recieves a mad offer to sell up. Even then we dont know what will be left of nufc as a club. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mick Posted November 27, 2014 Share Posted November 27, 2014 basically Rangers will be back in the CL, so essentially its saying its okay for Ashely to deliberately avoid it with Newcastle, surely that's against the rules. What if we qualified for the Europa and Rangers qualified for the CL and were dropped into the Europa? I doubt we could both qualify for even different competitions without a potential conflict of interest. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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