Mandate Trade Union launches bid for pay increase in Boots Ireland

Monday 8 July 2013

On Friday, 28 June, Mandate Trade Union tabled a bid for a pay increase at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) on behalf of all workers in Boots Ireland.

Mandate is seeking:

• A 3% pay increase for all workers backdated to 1 June 2012.
• The unfreezing of increments with immediate effect.

Despite rejecting the bid outright, Boots has so far not agreed to attend the Labour Court through a joint referral and this is a massive concern for all Mandate members in Boots according to Mandate Divisional Organiser Brendan O’Hanlon.

He said, “Mandate and Boots have a long-standing agreement which dictates that disputes such as this should be resolved through a joint referral to the Labour Court.

“We believe the company should live up to its obligations and we have obliged them by giving Boots two weeks to consider their position.

Workers infuriated at treatment by Boots

Boots management last week decided to pay a select number of staff a 2 percent pay increase but have denied all long serving staff members any pay increase. They have also refused to pay an agreed productivity bonus to these workers.

Mr O’Hanlon said, “Many Boots workers feel the company has mislead them into believing they were getting a productivity bonus if they achieved agreed targets. Now the company have reneged on that agreement and we feel this is a huge breach of trust.

“Mandate Trade Union is determined to pursue, through whatever means possible, fair and equitable treatment for all staff regarding pay increases and bonuses,” he said.

Workers now have the opportunity to voice their anger through both an online and a downloadable in-store petition which has now been launched. Please return all hard copies before 31 July 2013.

You can download a printable version of this update to give your colleagues.