union recognition

Sacked JJB Sports union steward Chris Riley talks about taking on Wigan Athletic's very own Dave Whelan.

A richly-deserved crappy Christmas is heading the way of one Dave Whelan, owner of Wigan Athletic and executive director of the JJB Sports chain.

Staff at the JJB Sports distribution depot in Wigan have voted to strike for three days between Christmas and New Year, in protest against the sacking of GMB steward Chris Riley. Riley played an instrumental role in organising strike action in November this year - a strike which led to union members at the depot winning their fight for better pay and conditions (workers like Riley were only getting £180 in the hand a week at that point). As soon as the new deal was sorted, Riley - an effective and popular union organiser - was sacked from JJB Sports on the usual trumped-up gross misconduct charge.