‘Freelancing’ stewards are just not cricket

Stewards keep back cricket fans from the players at Lords. ‘Vic Marks describes stewards at Lords as “freelancing”, which I doubt is their true status,’ writes Rick Hall. Photograph: Tom Jenkins for the Guardian

I resigned my Tate membership in protest against their use of zero-hours contracts, a practice that continues. Albeit in a throwaway remark, Vic Marks (Root’s reign starts royally, Sport, 10 July) describes stewards at Lords as “freelancing”, which I doubt is their true status. We have come to accept such unethical terms of employment as the norm, for the convenience of employers, and on an assumption that keeping overheads and related costs to a minimum is approved by spectators, customers, users and visitors (Gig economy: May to promise better-quality work without more regulations, 11 July). It ain’t necessarily so. Do bodies like the Arts Council, sports governing bodies etc have a policy? If not, why not?
Rick Hall
Nottingham

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