GMB Members At JJB Sports Wigan Vote To Accept Agreement Which Significantly Improves Basic Pay And Access To Bonus For All Workers

The new deal, which is to be backdated to 1 August 2006, raises the basic rate for all workers in the depot to £6 per hour - from either £5.20 or £5.50. It also provides for all workers to have access to bonus payments- of between 15p per hour and 90p per hour depending on how busy the depot is and the pace of work in the depot.

The strikes for Wednesday 22^nd and Thursday 23^rd November 2006and the work to rule and overtime ban have now been called off as the dispute is settled.

The meeting today also demanded that the Employment Agencies Standards (EAS) Inspectorate proceed with criminal charges in the magistrates court against 3 local Wiganagencies. See Note 1 for names. Throughout the dispute GMB has supplied information to the Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate regarding agency labour being used by JJB Sports during strike days and during the rest of the week to deal with the backlog as a result of the strikes. The agencies were made aware by GMB of the Conduct of Employment Agencies and Employment Business Regulations 2003which makes it a criminal offence for agencies to supply labour to companies during a trade dispute.

Graham Coxon GMB Regional Officer said, "This has been a great victory for the will and fortitude of GMB members at JJB Sports who have been on the minimum wage for far too long. Their action should serve as a beacon to low paid workers everywhere to join GMB and unite to fight for a better deal.

Our members want to see EAS pressing criminal charges in the courts against the agencies who supplied JJB with agency labour during the dispute. GMB will also raise question in Parliament about how EAS does its job. GMB members consider that there is not a level playing field as far as industrial relations law is concerned. If GMB had gone outside the law we would have faced immediate injunctions and sequestration."

-Ends-

Contact:Graham Coxon , GMB Lancashire Regional Officer on 07740 804064 or Steve Pryle, GMB Press Officeon 07921 289880 or Rose Conroy on 07974 251823.

Employment Agencies Standards Inspectorate (EAS) 0845 9555105.

Bond Personnel 01942 743270, Heads Personnel 0161 746 8811, Lightyear 01942 511159.

Notes to Editors:

1 The agencies who supplied labour to JJB Sports were Heads Recruitment, Bond Personnel and Lightyear Recruitment Limited. (Contact details above). Light Year Recruitment is jointly owned by David Speedie ex. Liverpool, Chelsea, Blackburn and Coventry footballer.