MANDATE TRADE UNION CRITICAL OF TROUBLED RETAILERS LACK OF COMMUNICATION WITH STAFF MEMBERS

Mandate trade union has today (Wednesday, 11 March 2009) said it is concerned by the lack of communication from troubled women’s fashion company Principles and would like reassurance of job security for their 250 staff members in Ireland.

The UK and Irish retailer went into administration in the UK earlier this month with the loss of hundreds of jobs. While the Irish operation has not gone into administration at this point in time, Mandate trade union, which represents the employee’s said the companies silence has been deafening.

Mandate’s Assistant General Secretary Linda Tanham said, “Mandate was scheduled to meet with management in Principles last week but the company cancelled the meeting. Since then, we cannot get in contact with anybody in the company by telephone, email or through their website in order to clarify the situation for the 250 staff members whose jobs are in threat.

“These workers are currently attending stores with absolutely no information as to whether they’ll have a job by the end of the week. Mandate would like to discuss the situation with Principles management in order to reassure our members in the troubled company.”

There are several Principles outlets operating in Ireland including concessions in Arnotts, Debenhams and stores in Blanchardstown, Dundrum, Arklow, Blackrock and Limerick amongst others. It is estimated that the company employs approximately 250 workers.

Ms Tanham continued, “It is imperative that Principles commence communications with Mandate as soon as possible. Their workers and our members deserve to know where they stand with regard to their jobs and it is unfair to leave them in the dark like this.

“The lack of communication by the company is highly insensitive, especially in the current economic environment where they know it would be difficult to obtain employment elsewhere. Not only that, some of the workers are genuinely concerned as to whether they’ll be paid for the work they’re currently doing,” said Ms Tanham.

The women’s fashion retailer announced last Saturday, (7 March 2009) that the vast majority of the 2,300 workers in the UK are to be laid off. This is an ominous sign for Irish workers in Principles so we need communications channels open and clarification of job security as soon as possible.