Mandate accuse Lloyds Pharmacy of “wreckless and irresponsible behaviour” as workers prepare for fourth strike
Friday 6 July 2018Having to strike is “heartbreaking”, say workers
Up to 250 Lloyds Pharmacy workers in almost 40 stores nationwide will participate in their first full day of industrial action today (Friday, 6th July 2018).
The strike takes place as Lloyds management continues their refusal to implement a Labour Court recommendation which stated that the company should allow their workers trade union representation.
Mandate Trade Union say this strike was preventable but management in Lloyds Pharmacy are responsible for it proceeding.
Gerry Light, Mandate Trade Union Assistant General Secretary, said:
“Lloyds Pharmacy workers don’t want to be on strike, but management’s contempt for their basic rights has forced them out on the picket lines for a fourth time. This not only shows the total disregard management has for its own workers, but also for their customers who will be severely inconvenienced by this action.”
He added: “We had initially only taken action for short periods of time because our members did not want to inconvenience their customers who rely on their local pharmacy. Unfortunately management has refused to listen, and so we have been forced to escalate this dispute.
“It is totally wreckless and irresponsible behaviour from management to allow this situation to occur, but Mandate Trade Union and our members have done absolutely everything in our power to prevent the strike from occuring.”
The strike relates to a claim by Mandate Trade Union on behalf of its 250 members employed by LloydsPharmacy which includes:
- A pay increase and incremental pay scales;
- The introduction of a sick pay scheme;
- Security of hours and the elimination of zero hour contracts; and
- Improvements in annual leave entitlements and public holiday premiums.
June Kelly, Lloyds Pharmacy worker from Ballyfermot said:
“It’s heartbreaking. None of us want to be on strike. We don’t want to let our customers down. Our customers are very important to us because we work within the community and we know them on a first name basis. I just wish it could be sorted as quickly as possible.”
Mr Light said Mandate Trade Union has written to the company seeking a resolution to this dispute.
“We have informed Lloyds Pharmacy management that we are available to resolve this dispute at very short notice. There is only one party not willing to accept the Labour Court’s recommendation, and that is Lloyds management,” he said.
Lloyds Pharmacy workers have participated in three work stoppages over the last three weeks. The Union has notified the company that there will be two more full days of industrial action on Thursday, 12th July and Friday, 20th July if management continue to refuse to implement the Labour Court recommendation.
Lloyds Pharmacy argues that it does not operate zero hour contracts despite Mandate publishing a number of the contracts. A number of employment experts have also stated that the contracts do not guarantee any hours of employment for workers.
The Company also argues that it already negotiates with an internal staff representative body, however this body was established by management, is funded by the company to the tune of €10,000 and has never allowed elections to take place.
A delegation of Lloyds Pharmacy workers attended an Oireachtas briefing on the dispute and received support from almost all political parties including Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Independents4Change, Solidarity/People Before Profit and the Workers and Unemployed Action Group.
