On this year’s Black Friday (25 November) Usdaw activists will be joining a demonstration outside Boohoo HQ in Manchester organised by Labour Behind the Label.
Usdaw continues to urge Boohoo to not only improve working conditions in 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. Something they promised to do when in front of the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee.
The demo will highlight how Boohoo Black Friday sales harm people and harm the planet by promoting excessive consumption of clothing. This business model is killing the planet and driving bad working practices, so people are exploited and underpaid around the world in the race to the bottom on price. The demonstration will provide alternative view to the marketing of 10p bikinis and show how fashion can damage our world.
Mike Aylward – Usdaw Regional Secretary says: “Regrettably, Boohoo has played fast and loose with their responses to persistent calls for the company to become an ethical trader. They have not made any progress on working with Usdaw since the House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee recommended the company engages with us. It feels like they were just saying whatever it took to get them through the MPs’ investigation.
“We again ask Boohoo to take the simple step of sitting down with Usdaw to explore how we can work together. Boohoo could go a long way towards repairing their damaged reputation by meeting with Usdaw and engaging in a positive relationship. The company needs to clearly demonstrate to their employees, customers and the communities they operate in, that Boohoo is serious about being an ethical trader. We are joining with Labour Behind the Label to seek fairness and respect for fashion industry workers.”
Notes for editors:
Usdaw (Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers) is 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.
Labour Behind the Label is a campaign that works to improve conditions and empower workers in the global garment industry https://labourbehindthelabel.org
Demo outside Boohoo HQ to protest Black Friday excess: 0930, Friday 25th November, Boohoo HQ, Dale Street, Manchester. Participating organisations so far: XR Fashion Action, XR Manchester, Labour Behind the Label, Usdaw, People + Planet
House of Commons Environmental Audit Committee Report: 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: http://www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Twitter @UsdawUnion