Dokko Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Sports Direct: Billionaire owner Mike Ashley faces anger as 20,000 staff on zero-hours contracts 29 Jul 2013 19:25 The contracts leave them with no idea how many hours they will work or how much they will earn from one week to the next Sports Direct’s billionaire owner Mike Ashley faced anger today after putting 20,000 of his staff on zero-hours contracts. All part-time employees at Mr Ashley’s high-street chain are on the contracts, which leave them with no idea how many hours they will work or how much they will earn from one week to the next. The revelations comes as full-time staff at the sportswear firm prepare to cash in on bonuses of up to £100,000. The part-time workforce at Sports Direct accounts for 90% of its 23,000 employees. Labour MPs who have campaigned against zero-hours contracts called on Mr Ashley, the Newcastle United FC owner, to guarantee workers a minimum number of hours. The company posted profits of more than £200million in the last year. Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Ummuna today hit out at the “rampant use and abuse of zero-hours contracts”. He said their growth was “unjust and needs to be clamped down on”. Mr Ummuna said: “We are currently looking at ways to clamp down on the misuse of zero hours contracts, which is increasing, in Labour’s policy review.” Ian Murray, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Employment Relations, added: “We need to ensure that ordinary working people are not paying the price of this Government’s economic failure. “The use of zero hours contracts has increased markedly in recent years and there are serious questions to be answered as to why this is the case. “Zero hours contracts are being abused and used to undermine employment rules. “It’s critical the Government looks at this properly and doesn’t simply pay lip service to this serious issue in the labour market.” Most of Britain’s other top shops - including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Marks & Spencer - do not use zero-hours contracts. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the number of workers in jobs without any guarantee of regular hours or pay nearly doubled during last year to reach 200,000. Best boss in the land innit Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 At least he's consistently crappy across all his ventures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Zero Hour Contratcs, so how does that work, they just ring you up and say they need you for 2 hours here and there ?? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skeletor Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Zero Hour Contratcs, so how does that work, they just ring you up and say they need you for 2 hours here and there ?? Yeah. You can't take another part time job as you have to be their bitch. Also means you can go weeks without a shift (and being paid). Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I had a zero-hour contract when I worked in a restaurant at college. You still normally get 12-16 hours as normal but just means they don't have to give you hours if its not needed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 Zero Hour Contratcs, so how does that work, they just ring you up and say they need you for 2 hours here and there ?? Aye pretty much. The student union bar I worked in at Staffs Uni dished out a load of zero hour contracts from March-ish onwards so they always had cover for those wanting time off for revision/projects/placements etc. First come, first serve basis as well, which sucks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dokko Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I've been on a 4 hour contract but it was very rare that's all i got, so not really too dissimilar, however its another kick in the teeth for PT workers, i thought legally the lowest was 4. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 I cant sort of see the flexibility for a bar or a restaurant but not for a well established business. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LoveItIfWeBeatU Posted July 29, 2013 Share Posted July 29, 2013 http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2013/jul/29/sports-direct-zero-hours-contracts Annmarie Kilcline, a regional secretary at Unite, the only recognised union at Sports Direct, said she had written to Ashley demanding a meeting. She said: "We hope Mike Ashley will sit down with Unite to discuss how the treatment of workers at Sports Direct can be improved, after they have made the business such a success." Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simmsy10 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Non story in the express about selling up and taking controlling stake in rangers. Can't link as on my phone. Too good to be true! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Surely he could buy a controlling stake in Rangers out of his petty cash? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simmsy10 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Surely he could buy a controlling stake in Rangers out of his petty cash? Depends if he's allowed to own 2 clubs at once guess! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
WarrenBartonCentrePartin Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Newcastle owner Mike Ashley eyeing Rangers move By Niall Hickman NEWCASTLE supporters made their feelings clear at Blackpool’s Bloomfield Road on Sunday by unveiling a banner declaring: ‘Support the team, not the regime’ And it has emerged they might get their wish to see Mike Ashley leave their club as the controversial multi-millionaire continues to develop his interest in Rangers, who Newcastle will play in a pre-season friendly at Ibrox next Tuesday. Ashley is now the third-biggest shareholder in Rangers with an 8.9 per cent stake as the club work their way back to the Scottish Premier League following the financial collapse last year which sent them into the fourth tier of league football north of the border. Ashley’s huge Sports Direct leisure company have a deal with the club to sell their official merchandise which they won off rival JJB Sports, owned by Wigan chairman Dave Whelan. Ashley also secured a deal last March for the naming rights to the 51,000-capacity Ibrox stadium, although he has yet to announce his plans over any name change. It all points to an increased interest in Rangers, and close associates of Ashley say it is the enormous potential the club enjoys which he finds appealing, despite their ignominious fall. Ashley is acutely aware of the merchandising and commercial possibilities at a club which could still call on average gates of about 43,000 last season, despite the fact they were playing largely part-time opposition. Newcastle fans have one eye on Ashley’s close ties with Rangers, as his unpopularity is such that the vast majority would happily see him sell up and move north of the border. While Ashley has pumped in the region of £200? million of his fortune into Newcastle, he continues to make baffling decisions which alienate him from supporters – his latest and most bizarre appointment was that of 66-year-old Joe Kinnear as director of football. Steve Wraith of Newcastle United Football Club Fans United believes Ashley will depart the North-east in much the same way he arrived in 2008. “It wouldn’t surprise anyone connected with the club to see Mike Ashley go as rapidly as he came in,” said Wraith. “And let’s face it, he wouldn’t be buying an interest in Rangers just for the sake of it. He has put his marker down at Ibrox and it may only be a matter of time before he regards that as a better option than Newcastle.” He has put his marker down at Ibrox and it may only be a matter of time before he regards that as a better option than Newcastle Wraith says that Ashley was beginning to winover fans when Newcastle finished fifth in the Premier League 15 months ago, but since then has made some oddball decisions which have injured his reputation. “He has been hurt by the criticism which has come from fans, but appointing Joe Kinnear is just mind-blowing,” said Wraith. “He has got rid of Derek Llambias and replaced him with Kinnear, who is considered a comical appointment by the rest of the football world.” Ashley has yet to make any public announcement regarding his involvement with Rangers, hardly surprising bearing in mind he has yet to speak to the media since taking over Newcastle five years ago. http://www.express.co.uk/sport/football/418395/Newcastle-owner-Mike-Ashley-eyeing-Rangers-move FWIW he bought the club in 2007, not 2008. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRD Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 The banner was already there in our first pre-season friendly I think. Nothing story. He has to have a willing buyer before he can sell. Journalist can't even be bothered to confirm the 200m. And Wraith the voice of NUFC fans. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tisd09 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 There was a journo (Shaun Custis) on SSN this morning who briefly mentioned this. Seemed a bit of a non story he just said watch this space. He did say that Rangers are a bigger global brand than Newcastle so that was Ashley's incentive??? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
simmsy10 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Cheers WBCP! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NEEJ Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 I wish people wouldn't interview that arsewipe as often as they do. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
AyeDubbleYoo Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Could he own Newcastle and Rangers at the same time? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRD Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 There was a journo (Shaun Custis) on SSN this morning who briefly mentioned this. Seemed a bit of a non story he just said watch this space. He did say that Rangers are a bigger global brand than Newcastle so that was Ashley's incentive??? I don't think Asian or American fans give a sh*t about Rangers tbh. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Hurt by the criticism by fans...lolz Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
LRD Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Could he own Newcastle and Rangers at the same time? Different leagues so it's ok. The only potential problem is if both clubs meet each other in Europe, which is unlikely to happen anytime soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
henke Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 So am i right in thinking that Ashley would have to sell us in order to take a controlling interest at Rangers? Cause that's not happening. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stifler Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 There is no way he will sell us for Rangers. Fair enough Rangers maybe more well known across the globe but in case you have forgot they are still at least 2 seasons away from being in the SPL and even then for them to even start to make money like us they would have to be in the CL and progress quite a way year on year. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stifler Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 Sports Direct: Billionaire owner Mike Ashley faces anger as 20,000 staff on zero-hours contracts 29 Jul 2013 19:25 The contracts leave them with no idea how many hours they will work or how much they will earn from one week to the next Sports Direct’s billionaire owner Mike Ashley faced anger today after putting 20,000 of his staff on zero-hours contracts. All part-time employees at Mr Ashley’s high-street chain are on the contracts, which leave them with no idea how many hours they will work or how much they will earn from one week to the next. The revelations comes as full-time staff at the sportswear firm prepare to cash in on bonuses of up to £100,000. The part-time workforce at Sports Direct accounts for 90% of its 23,000 employees. Labour MPs who have campaigned against zero-hours contracts called on Mr Ashley, the Newcastle United FC owner, to guarantee workers a minimum number of hours. The company posted profits of more than £200million in the last year. Shadow Business Secretary Chuka Ummuna today hit out at the “rampant use and abuse of zero-hours contracts”. He said their growth was “unjust and needs to be clamped down on”. Mr Ummuna said: “We are currently looking at ways to clamp down on the misuse of zero hours contracts, which is increasing, in Labour’s policy review.” Ian Murray, Labour’s Shadow Minister for Employment Relations, added: “We need to ensure that ordinary working people are not paying the price of this Government’s economic failure. “The use of zero hours contracts has increased markedly in recent years and there are serious questions to be answered as to why this is the case. “Zero hours contracts are being abused and used to undermine employment rules. “It’s critical the Government looks at this properly and doesn’t simply pay lip service to this serious issue in the labour market.” Most of Britain’s other top shops - including Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, Morrisons, and Marks & Spencer - do not use zero-hours contracts. According to data from the Office for National Statistics, the number of workers in jobs without any guarantee of regular hours or pay nearly doubled during last year to reach 200,000. Best boss in the land innit They have been doing that for years, plenty of other stores do it, and even though the article says other stores don't do zero hour contracts they still do similar things, just the base contract is not as low. Also SD employ a lot of people aged between 16-18 so that they can pay them the lower NMW. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NG32 Posted July 30, 2013 Share Posted July 30, 2013 They are in a shit league but having said that with little outlay he can get his awful brand splatted all over champions league broadcasts Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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