Trade union Mandate has welcomed a Recommendation issued by the Labour Court, which calls on Dunnes Stores to engage with the union in the next four weeks, in an effort to resolve workers' issues.
This is the fourth time that the Labour Court has made a Recommendation where Dunnes has failed to attend. Dunnes signed a collective agreement with Mandate with regard to working conditions in 1996, but the union says that since then the retailer has refused to engage.
“There are thousands of Dunnes workers who have a genuine grievance with their company," said Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary.
"They do not know with certainty from week-to-week what hours they will receive from their manager. This means they cannot plan their finances and their lives. They are under constant anxiety and in many cases, Dunnes management use hours as a method of control over their workers. This cannot continue.”
Earlier this year, Mandate established the 'Decency For Dunnes Workers' campaign, calling on Dunnes to engage on salary issues, working hours, job security and the right to trade union representation.
“We will be hosting meetings with our members and ultimately the next steps in the Decency for Dunnes Workers campaign will be directed by them," Light added. "Again, we are urging all Dunnes workers to join their campaign and join their union because the greatest way we can achieve significant change in Dunnes stores is through being united in our union."
© 2014 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
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