Sports Direct appoints first elected employee representative

Sports Direct workers have elected their first representative to attend the retailer's board meetings as it looks to counter criticism of poor working conditions.The company - founded and run by billionaire Mike Ashley - pledged a series of reforms at the firm amid outrage among unions and MPs over allegations of "Victorian" practices - mainly concentrated on its Shirebrook warehouse.Sports Direct said on Wednesday that Alex Balacki, a 13-year veteran of the shop floor, had won the vote to secur