JJB Sports has had its application rejected to derecognise the GMB union which represents staff at its warehouse in Wigan.

The sports retailer had asked the Central Arbitration Committee to derecognise the union claiming that GMB’s failure to appoint a shop floor representative meant it could not enter pay negotiations.   

A JJB spokesman said: “JJB was forced to apply for de-recognition of the GMB because of the union’s inability to appoint a shop steward or enter negotiations with respect to pay for the whole of the warehouse workforce.

“We are disappointed by the CAC’s decision on the basis that only 103 of the 358 warehouse workers are union members. The Company remains unable to agree a pay settlement for any of these warehouse workers until the union has approved it. JJB is not opposed to the presence of the union per se but the GMB has prevented non-member warehouse colleagues from receiving a pay settlement when over 7,000 other colleagues across the Company received a pay increase in February 2010.”

He added: “The only thing we are encouraged by is that our application to the CAC - and its subsequent decision - has prompted a response from the GMB and we hope further progress can be made.”

GMB union spokesman Eddie Gaudie said: “This is a ruling for common sense and the working person.”

He added that union officials would be going into JJB to start pay negotiations and it was looking at appointing a shop floor representative.

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