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dunnes dispute
Strikes for Dunnes staff could be 'unavoidable' after the company's Labour Court snub
The company has said there was “no purpose” to meeting with its workers.
STRIKES COULD BE “unavoidable” among Dunnes Stores staff who are locked in an industrial dispute with the retail chain.
That warning came from the Mandate Trade Union, which represents retail employees, after it said Dunnes refused a request from the Labour Court that it meet with workers.
The union said Dunnes had since written to the court to advise the company saw “no purpose in any meeting” over the dispute which has been running for about 8 months.
Assistant general secretary Gerry Light said the letter “demonstrates the arrogance and utter lack of respect senior management have for their own workers”.
“Ultimately the next steps in our (campaign) will be decided by our members and we most certainly cannot rule out disruptive action in the near future,” he said.
October no-show
Last month the company also failed to turn up for a court hearing over workers’ pay and conditions. There was no legal obligation for it to attend.
Workers have been calling for more secure hours and better pay, although in June staff got a 3% wage rise.
One Dunnes employee, Sarah Brown, from Dublin, said insecurity over working hours was a “major issue” for nearly all workers and the problem needed to be dealt with immediately.
The company employs nearly 15,000 people and operated 155 stores across Ireland, the UK and Spain, with the vast majority in the Republic.
Dunnes Stores has been contacted for comment but the company hasn’t responded yet.
READ: Dunnes Stores a no-show at Labour Court dispute >
READ: Dunnes-v-Karren Millen goes to Europe, the result isn’t good for the Irish store >
