Union slams 'bad employer' ASOS

Trade union GMB has hit out against ASOS over working conditions for members at the e-tailer's Barnsley distribution centre. Deanne Ferguson, GMB organiser, says "Last April Nick Robertson, founder and CEO of ASOS, was one of 103 bosses who called in the national media to vote for the Tory Party in the general election. GMB responded that ASOS is against workers having rights and is just a really bad employer."

He goes on to claim that members at the Barnsley site have had constant issues with health and safety (e.g hot working conditions, lack of access to water). There is a huge turnover of agency staff and zero hours contracts loom large. Ferguson says: "The company has seen profits double from £15.7 million to £30.3 million as published in their last accounts, yet employees are forced to work in draconian conditions on a daily basis. GMB has requested that ASOS meet as a matter of urgency to discuss members’ concerns about health and safety and poor working conditions, but the company has refused. Profit should not come at the price of workers’ terms and conditions; neither should it be at the price of poor health and safety."

When contacted by Retail Systems, Ken Perritt, logistics solutions account director at XPO Logistics, which operates the Barnsley DC for ASOS, commented: "As a company that places people at the heart of its business, we take our responsibilities to all those we employ extremely seriously. XPO Logistics is committed to providing a safe and modern working environment, which is in line with all current legislation. Employee engagement is fundamental to our business and our aim is to ensure that all of our colleagues are not only rewarded for their efforts, but also feel valued and listened to in everything they do. Colleagues at Barnsley are represented by an elected body from within the organisation, in tandem with good relationships with union officials in the area.”

ASOS, meanwhile, said in a statement: "As a responsible retailer we take all matters relating to people associated with or employed by our company extremely seriously. We are in dialogue with XPO. We monitor our supplier partners closely and surveys of the staff are carried out regularly. We have instructed XPO to look into the matters the GMB has raised as a matter of urgency and should anything need to be addressed, it will be swiftly."

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