GMB slams Mike Ashley HoF rescue plan
The GMB union has hit out at Mike Ashley after 627 jobs were put under threat at XPO Logistics, a supply chain partner of House of Fraser.
Members of staff were put on a 45-day consultation period from Friday. Ashley’s company Sports Direct bought the department store chain out of administration following its collapse earlier this month. However, there has been a stand-off between Sports Direct and XPO – which runs House of Fraser warehouses in Milton Keynes and Wellingborough – over a £30 million House of Fraser debt.
Alan Costello, GMB Organiser, says: “When companies like House of Fraser crash, history shows that asset stripping is often the consequence. You’ve got to question the motives for this buyout and ask whether Mr Ashley has got the interests of the company and its workers at heart.”
He adds: “There are more than 600 people desperately worrying about their futures and how they’re going to be able to put food on the table for their families. It’s time for Mike Ashley to show that his rescue plan for House of Fraser is not simply a plan to boost his bank balance at the expense of House of Fraser workers and our members. GMB will be fighting hard to ensure members are treated fairly and to save as many jobs as possible.”
Both Sports Direct, which is not obliged to pay the near £1 billion owed to House of Fraser creditors at the time of its collapse, and XPO did not return RTIH’s request for comment.
