Shopworkers union to raise concerns about Life & Style with Government
The shopworkers union Usdaw is to raise its concerns with the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills about the running of fashion and homeware chain Life & Style and its predecessor company Ethel Austin.
Life & Style Retail Ltd went into administration earlier this month amid rumours suggesting that owner Elaine McPherson may be involved in a deal to take the company out of administration for an unprecedented third time in as many years.
The Union said it was “extremely concerned” at the prospect of McPherson being permitted to run the company again and has also written to Life & Style’s administrators to request they ensure any prospective purchaser demonstrates an ability to run the business effectively and can provide a long term sustainable future for its employees.
Usdaw said its immediate concern was to safeguard the jobs of as many of Life & Style’s staff as possible and said it had urged the administrators to keep stores open and allow as much time as possible for a buyer to be found.
John Gorle, Usdaw national officer, said: “During the past three years, Usdaw and Life & Style’s employees have done everything possible to try and help revive the business and make it a success, yet in return the staff have been treated in a truly appalling and cavalier fashion.”
Usdaw said that there had been several occasions when Life & Style staff had either not been paid or received just a fraction of what they were owed and said most recently the company attempted to slash the pay of its store managers with little or no notice.
Reports that McPherson may continue to be involved with the business meant that the Union could no longer remain silent on the issue, Usdaw said.
Gorle continued: “Our members tell me Ethel Austin used to be a fantastic company to work for and that’s why they have remained loyal and continued to back the business despite the shocking way they have been treated in the past three years. They are positive the company still has a future but are horrified at the thought of Ms McPherson returning to run it again and they can’t believe what’s gone on is all legal and above board. As one put it – ‘in any other walk of life she’d have been fired long ago’.”
