Mandate Trade Union welcomes Superquinn brand change

Thursday 13 February 2014

Mandate Trade Union is welcoming today’s rebranding of Superquinn as Supervalu calling it a ‘proactive and sensible decision’.

The union, which represents more than 2,500 workers in 24 Superquinn outlets, says it hopes the rebranding exercise will be of benefit to consumers and to their staff.

Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary said:

“It is clear that the Superquinn business has been struggling to maintain market share over the last number of years and any measure which attempts to arrest this slide and secure quality retail jobs has to be supported.”

Mr Light explained that Superquinn is a designated ‘Fair Shop’ and that he hoped its customers would remain loyal to the new brand going forward.

“In relative terms, Superquinn workers are treated fairly by their employer and have therefore been designated Fair Shop status by Mandate trade union. This reality should be a major consideration for consumers in deciding where they should spend their money in the future.”

He added: “Superquinn has always had a very healthy and productive relationship with their workers’ union, Mandate. We have negotiated many improvements in terms and conditions for our members in the company throughout the years and recently, during times of difficult trading, our members have also had to make some sacrifices and in doing so have displayed significant loyalty and commitment to Musgraves and the plans they have for the business.”

Being a Fair Shop means the workers are afforded full collective bargaining rights and ensures the workers in Superquinn and in other Fair Shop locations have a voice in their workplace and a genuine say in how the business is run.

“This is something that should be supported by all and as consumers it should be done in a tangible way by spending our money where workers count,” said Mr Light.

He added, “There’s been a significant deterioration in terms and conditions of employment across the retail sector during the economic recession, largely in non unionised employments. However, by supporting Fair Shop retailers like Superquinn within the new Supervalu brand, we can all ensure that decent work is a priority for the sector.

“There’s no doubt this is the end of an era for the Superquinn brand but there are many aspects of the business which will continue and hopefully improve. The current promotional slant coming from management is the change to Supervalu will not be the same as the Superquinn experience, it will be better. This must apply right across the board and we are confident that the respect and recognition the company has for its employees’ right to be represented by their trade union will continue,” said Mr Light.

For more information on Fair Shops in Ireland go to www.fairshop.ie.