We need action against zero-hour contracts


Join the day of action on 5 November

Claire Laker-Mansfield

How do you make a fortune worth £1.7 billion? It’s perhaps not a question most of us have spent too much time pondering.

For the average person, the more pressing questions are the ones about paying fuel bills, making food last and avoiding rent arrears.

But if ever you do have the urge, it would be worth addressing the question to one Mike Ashley – proud owner of Sports Direct, currently in 15th place on the country’s rich list.

The only thing is, you might be a little disappointed at the answer. Mike Ashley made his money in the same way most of them do – not through some special genius or unique innovation.

He started out rich, he bought up other people’s companies and – here’s the most important bit – he employed thousands of workers on insecure zero-hour contracts and rock bottom wages. Because maximum exploitation equals maximum profit.

Like it or lump it?

When Sports Direct and other big companies were exposed in the press for their enormous use of zero-hour contracts, it caused outrage.

Anyone can see the deep unfairness of it. Your employer has total freedom and flexibility. You have to like it or lump it – plenty of people are queuing up to get more hours if you upset the boss.

But Youth Fight for Jobs says we’re not prepared to simply ‘lump it’. The Sick of your Boss (SoyB) initiative is mounting a fightback against zero-hour contracts, low pay and insecurity.

On 5 November we’re calling a national day of action targeting zero-hour companies with protests, stunts and occupations.

In particular we’ll be hitting super-exploitative Sports Direct. We’re appealing to everyone who’s facing these issues at work, to trade unionists who support our campaign and to anyone disgusted by these contracts to join us on the day.

Building anger

With this action, we want to put the spotlight back on the zero-hour employers who think they can get away with it.

We want to give confidence to those struggling under the weight of low wages and casual employment that they’re not alone.

Because ultimately, it won’t be rallies and stunts that beat back greedy and exploitative bosses. It will be the workers getting organised.

We can take inspiration from the example of Hovis workers who’ve taken strike action and beaten back zero-hour contracts. They’ve shown it’s possible to fight – and it’s possible to win.

What Mike Ashley and those like him fear most is not just bad publicity, it’s the anger that’s building on his shop floors, it’s the potential for working class traditions – those of unions, strikes and solidarity – to assert themselves powerfully as his employees get a feel for their own strength.

That’s why SoyB aims to use this day of action as a springboard for building groups of young workers and trade unionists who can help each other to get organised. If you’re sick of your boss and want to join the fightback – protest on 5 November.

See www.youthfightforjobs.com for details