Mandate and Arnotts’ Representatives hold preliminary meeting

Friday 6 August 2010

The Mandate trade union this afternoon (Wednesday, 4 August) met with representatives of the Arnotts retail store on Dublin’s northside. The meeting follows last week’s announcement that Anglo Irish Bank and Ulster Bank have become the new owners of Arnotts. Mandate trade union has over 900 members in the company.

Mandate General Secretary John Douglas, explained that the purpose of the meeting – which was a preliminary one – was to discuss a process and a timetable for exploring the issues involved in the immediate and long term future of the company.

“At the meeting, the company representatives committed to full and ongoing dialogue with staff members and their representatives, Mandate trade union. On this basis, Mandate is prepared to engage constructively with the company in the process of revitalizing Arnotts as a leader in the retail industry.

“There was no substantive discussion of the key issues involved in the immediate future of Arnotts – such discussions will take place at later meetings. However, the meeting did allow Mandate to repeat directly to the new management its demand that workers’ representatives must be involved in making the decisions over the future of Arnotts – including at board director level.”

John Douglas repeated the union’s view that any difficulties which Arnotts has found itself in are a direct result of management deciding to enter the property industry.

“In this context, any plans to stabilize the business have to take account of the fact that staff have been a vital component in the success of the retail business and are in no way at fault for the situation Arnotts now finds itself in. Indeed, we have said to management very clearly that if the company wishes to develop and implement long term viability plans, it can only do so successfully with the active support of its key stakeholders, their staff and their trade unions,” Mr Douglas concluded.