Mandate Trade Union warns Dublin transport plans will “ultimately cost jobs”
Friday 18 August 2017Mandate Trade Union, representing 40,000 workers in the retail, bar and administrative industries say the new Dublin City Centre transport plans “will have a major negative impact on the retail sector and ultimately cost jobs.”
Dublin City Council’s (DCC) new traffic management arrangements will come into effect on the north and south city centre quays from this Sunday, 20th August 2017.
In 2015 Mandate called for a “full business impact study” to take place before any changes go ahead, which would have helped to determine how many jobs would be affected by these changes. Despite this request, DCC still have not answered this important question.
Mandate believes these changes could permanently damage the retail industry in the city.
John Douglas, Mandate General Secretary said, “Our members working in retail outlets like Dunnes Stores, Penneys, M&S and other major retailers on Henry Street and Grafton Street depend on consumers coming into the city centre to make purchases. Many of those retail shoppers come into the city centre using their private cars. By making access more difficult for commuters, those consumers will be forced to stay out of the city centre and shop online or drive to out of town outlets. Some may even engage in cross border shopping.
“This will no doubt have an impact on jobs in Dublin city centre,” he said.
Mr Douglas highlighted the difficult time retailers in the city centre have endured in recent years.
“Since 2007, many retailers in Dublin City Centre have closed down or gone into examinership. We’ve had high profile retailers like Clerys shut their doors permanently and others like Arnotts and Debenhams have to restructure their businesses.
“Footfall in Dublin City Centre is still not what it was 10 years ago with some reports stating it is down 30%. Dublin City Council is making life more difficult for these businesses and their workers and we have no doubt this will mean lost jobs or cuts to hours and incomes,” said Mr Douglas.
Mr Douglas called for DCC to be alert to the negative impact their plans will have on retail outlets in Dublin City Centre and in future properly plan traffic arrangements so that workers and jobs are protected.
He concluded: “Our elected representatives need to monitor the impact these plans have on the retail and bar industries in Dublin City Centre and if there are negative consequences, we are calling on them to intervene in the interests of preserving jobs.”
