Mandate seeks immediate payment of 3% pay increase for Penneys members

Friday 2 August 2013

Mandate Trade Union has written to Penneys management seeking the immediate payment of the 3% pay increase awarded to their workers at the Labour Court last month.

During the past number of days, the company has sought another meeting with the union to discuss the guaranteed weekly working hours clause. While Mandate has agreed to this meeting, Gerry Light, Assistant General Secretary of Mandate, said the negotiations must take place immediately and in the meantime, the company should prepare to pay the full pay increase without delay.

“Our members deserve and are entitled to the pay increase they won at the Labour Court. The company has already stated that they have no principled objection to this aspect of the recommendation so we have written to them seeking the immediate implementation on a without prejudice basis their 3% pay increase.

“This would be a tangible demonstration of goodwill by management towards our members and definitive proof that they mean it when they say that they recognise the vital contribution made by workers in the unprecedented growth and massive success of the Penneys business in Ireland.”

Mr Light also explained that Mandate had already met with the company, as per the Labour Court request, regarding the guaranteed weekly hours clause but the union was left bitterly disappointed that the company was not prepared to move on their position.

“We’re prepared to meet with Penneys management one more time but it must be the case that there is genuine engagement on this very important issue for our members.”

Mr Light concluded by saying, “If we cannot resolve the issue of guaranteed weekly working hours through direct negotiations with the company, we expect that both parties will commit to a referral to the Labour Court on this issue.”

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