Despite being non-essential and closing stores, JD Sports continue to operate online and are subjecting distribution centre workers to dangerous conditions. Workers are unable to follow government social distancing guidlines in cramped work stations, have insufficient access to hand washing facilities and unsuitable personal protective equipment. 

JD Sports are furloughing all shop floor workers - at the expense of the tax payer - despite the Financial Times reporting that the company will this month announce profits of over £425m for the last financial year. The company’s workers - who receive a paltry 1p to 5p above minimum wage depending on their age - have been told that JD do not plan to ensure they the receive full pay during the coronavirus crisis. The way in which furlough pay is calculated means that many staff are facing the prospect of losing out on around £100 per week. Staff are also expected to use some of their annual leave entitlement despite being furloughed. This is subjecting workers already on low incomes to further and unnecessary financial hardship.

An article from The Guardian in May 2019 reported that JD Sports’ CEO was to be given a £6m bonus (paid over 4 years) in addition to his basic salary of £2.4m. They wrote “The deal ensures (Peter) Cowgill will be paid a minimum of £3.9m this year compared to £2.55m last year. If he hits undisclosed performance targets, he could earn up to £4.7m in total, more than the boss of Tesco, the UK’s largest retailer which makes annual profits of £1.67bn, five times that of JD Sports.”

JD Sports workers are asking the company to:

- Ensure the wellbeing of their workforce comes before profits by closing the distribution centre

- Protect the incomes of all workers and guarantee full pay

- Allow workers to roll over annual leave for up to 2 years, per governement guidelines. 

Sources

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/may/30/jd-sports-chairman-awarded-6m-cash-bonus-over-four-years

https://www.ft.com/content/34266bda-337c-11ea-9703-eea0cae3f0de