Majority of Superquinn Naas staff vote for deal on redeployment and redundancy
Tuesday 18 January 2011Staff at Superquinn Naas have voted to accept a deal negotiated between Mandate representatives and management over the course of the last week. The deal, which consisted primarily of offers of redeployment or compulsory redundancy, was recommended to the members as a good deal in bad circumstances.
The 103 Naas employees, some with up to 30 years service, were informed of the retailer’s intention to close the store on 4th February next due to the expiry of the store’s lease. After two days of intensive negotiations, Mandate emerged with a deal it was happy to recommend to its workers.
Assistant General Secretary, Gerry Light stated: “This isn’t an ideal situation for anyone involved. The workers of Superquinn Naas would much prefer for things to be continuing as they have for the past 30 years. Be that as it may, we had to deal with the situation as we found it and try and get the very best deal for our members as we could under the circumstances. And to be honest, I think we have achieved that aim. However, notwithstanding the provisions made for redeployment, the reality is that the majority of workers cannot reasonably be expected to avail of the limited number of alternative positions on offer and as a consequence face a compulsory redundancy situation.”
The main terms of the deal negotiated are as follows:
- Superquinn management have allocated 52 positions throughout the other stores for Superquinn Naas staff to avail of. These positions will be offered on exactly the same terms and conditions as previously held;
- A once off redeployment payment of €1000 will be paid to each member who avails of the scheme along with a temporary travel payment of €25 per week for an initial period of 3 months;
- Any member who avails of the redeployment scheme will have a three month timeframe during which time they may switch to the offer of voluntary redundancy;
- Additionally, in the event of Superquinn opening a store in Naas in the future, members who redeploy within the business will have the option to return to Naas on their current terms and conditions;
- Members who leave the business under compulsory redundancy will also be entitled to apply for any vacancy in any new store that may open, however they will be treated as new entrants with respect to their terms and conditions;
- From the point of view of redundancy, the company have offered five weeks pay per year of service with a designated Financial Advisor available to meet each member on an individual basis in order to explain the method of calculation of their redundancy package and the options available to them.
Gerry Light explained that, in recognition of staff service and loyalty to Superquinn, the deal also includes a number of highly innovative arrangements whereby schemes set up to benefit staff in recent months will be extended to those who opt for redundancy such as a 15% staff discount on Superquinn merchandise and the retention of a right to a share of the agreed gain share pool if and when it is available in the future.
“In the context of the current economic climate, we believe that this agreement represents a fair deal for our members, which is why we were willing to recommend it to them and why we’re pleased they have accepted it.”
Gerry Light concluded by praising those involved in the negotiations stating: “The process involved in getting this deal over the line, was a model of successful industrial relations with both sides dealing honestly and openly with the issues at hand. It shows that constructive outcomes can be achieved when two parties come together with a solution-oriented focus.”
