PROTESTORS from a leading trade union took to the streets of Glasgow to hit out at Sports Direct’s ‘broken promises’ to their zero-hours contract workers.

Unite Scotland has accused Sports Direct of breaking promises to offer store staff guaranteed hours rather than zero-hours contracts.

At its shareholders’ meeting last year, the retailer said it would offer staff who requested it a certain number of hours a week.

But a year on, Unite said Sports Direct have failed to deliver on that promise.

The trade union’s Scotland branch community members stood outside the retailer’s store on Sauchiehall Street with placards on Wednesday morning - on the same day the sports firm were due to have their AGM.  The protestors handed out leaflets to members of the public calling for Sports Direct owner Mike Ashley to make good on the company’s promises.  The group also chanted: “Zero hours, no way! Make Mike Ashley pay.”

The Glasgow protest was part of a nationwide event by Unite to highlight the issues that the workers of Sport Direct face.

Unite say Sport Direct has failed to make good on pledges made last year to the workers in its factory and shops.

Those broken pledges included failing to give guaranteed hours for shopworkers or to put any warehouse personnel on permanent contracts.

Unite also say that the firm has failed to meet a pledge to stop the use of zero hours contracts.  The protestors for Unite said that Mike Ashley, promised “to ensure that all staff are treated with dignity and respect” in a report on its working practices published on September 6, last year. They argue that he has failed to do that due to the introduction of an emoji system. Staff at Sports Direct have to use a happy or sad face to show how they are feeling at the start of the shift. The argument is that workers will feel under pressure because of this system.  Unite also said Sports  Direct promised an end to paying below the minimum wage but it has failed to do so.

 Keith Stoddart, Unite Community Branch Chairperson, said “Unite Community is standing up for the thousands of workers here and across the country exploited by Sports Direct.  “We demand that Sports Direct keeps its promises and starts treating workers with dignity and respect. No to modern slavery.”