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Usdaw demonstrators will call on shareholders to back trade union recognition

Retail trade union Usdaw is organising a demonstration outside the annual general meeting of Boohoo Group plc, as shareholders are asked to vote on a name change to ‘Debenhams’. Usdaw is also asking shareholders to voice concerns about the reputational impact of the company’s persistent anti-union activity.

25 March 2025

0 min read

Shareholders will need to formally approve the company adopting the Debenhams brand at the Boohoo Group plc general meeting, to be held at Addleshaw Goddard, 1 St. Peter’s Square, Manchester M2 3DE on Friday 28 March 2025 at 10.00 a.m. Protesters from Usdaw will be outside, seeking to engage with shareholders as they arrive, urging them to back trade union recognition.

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. The union represents workers at Boohoo’s warehouse and call centre in Burnley, along with the head office in Manchester, but the company continues to refuse to recognise Usdaw - leaving staff without a real voice at work.

Amanda Bailey-Coll – Usdaw regional secretary for the North West says: “Among the reasons the company is asking shareholders to back a name change is to strengthen trust and unite colleagues. It is difficult to see how they achieve those goals while they refuse to keep their promise to engage with Usdaw, and deny their staff an independent voice at work.

“For some years, we have been seeking a dialogue with Boohoo to enable us to represent our members’ concerns. We have been met with a wall of silence and staff have been told in no uncertain terms not to engage with the union. Boohoo’s staff feel like they have no way of raising issues with managers or finding resolutions to problems. That is why they need an independent trade union.

“We are yet again asking Boohoo to take the simple step of sitting down with Usdaw to explore how we can work together. Staff, the local community, councillors, MPs and campaign organisations all want this to happen, to help make Boohoo an ethical trader.

“The writing is on the wall for companies like Boohoo who undertake anti-union practices. Labour’s Employment Rights Bill, which is being debated on Thursday in the House of Lords, will give trade unions rights to access workplaces and talk to staff about the benefits of being in the union. So, we urge Boohoo shareholders to not only consider a name change for the company, but also a change of attitude towards staff and their trade union representatives.”

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

Boohoo AGM notice: www.boohooplc.com/sites/boohoo-corp/files/2025-03/boohoo-notice-of-general-meeting.pdf

Employment Rights Bill: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/3737

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: www.usdaw.org.uk/news and you can follow us on Bluesky @usdawunion.bsky.social and Twitter/X @UsdawUnion

Summary

Retail trade union Usdaw is organising a demonstration outside the annual general meeting of Boohoo Group plc, as shareholders are asked to vote on a name change to ‘Debenhams’. Usdaw is also asking shareholders to voice concerns about the reputational impact of the company’s persistent anti-union activity.