UNION bosses are set to step up their fight for recognition at leading fashion house Boohoo.

Shopworkers union Usdaw is claiming the online clothing giant, which employs more than 1,400 people at its factory in Burnley, has refused to meet with their delegates.

And tomorrow they are planning to demonstrate outside their Heasandford warehouse, in a bid to hammer home their point.

The move comes after the House of Commons' environmental audit committee, while investigating sustainability across the fashion industry, called on Boohoo to allow union representation, if their workforce wanted such provisions.

Mike Aylward – Usdaw's divisional officer, claimed the company made "bold statements" when it came to ethical trading - but was reluctant to give staff their own voice.

He added: "It is shameful that big companies like Boohoo, the largest private sector employer in Burnley, won't recognise Usdaw.

"Our members are unhappy with Boohoo's position and want Usdaw's support in raising and resolving workplace issues.

"Boohoo staff should be allowed to speak for themselves, directly to Usdaw, and not have the company make statements on their behalf.

"Management claims that staff do not want a trade union is not correct. Our members working in Boohoo tell us that they want the peace-of-mind that trade union membership offers, alongside a recognition agreement."

A Boohoo spokesman said: "‘As we have previously stated, listening to the views and opinions of our teams is a core part of our philosophy.

"We have high levels of employee engagement through our employee forum and various employee initiatives, including share incentive schemes, bonus schemes and subsidised canteens and great on site leisure facilities.

"We meet frequently and with our teams and will continue to engage with them to understand their level of interest in union representation."

Further demonstrations are set to take place in Burnley town centre and outside Boohoo's corporate headquarters in Dale Street, Manchester.