Update for all Mandate members in the bar trade
Monday 16 March 2020To: All Mandate Members employed in the Licensed Trade
RE: COVID-19 AND Temporary Closure of Bars
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Dear Member
Following the emergency decision to close all bars as and from 15 March 2020, until 29 March 2020 (when it will be reviewed), Mandate Trade Union has been in contact with the employer representative associations Licensed Vintners’ Association (LVA) and the Vintners’ Federation of Ireland (VFI) to express not only our concern for the immediate future of bar staff, but also asking that employers adopt a flexible and reasonable approach to the crisis situation.
We have asked that employers consider protecting staffs net take home income by topping up Covid special payments to the net take home pay equivalent. We understand that this measure is being recommended by Government as a short term response and longer term measures such as allowing staff to take accrued annual leave might follow. This will mean that employees have some continuity of earnings.
We have posted information regarding Social Welfare claims and temporary lay-offs. We urge you to keep in contact with our messages. If you have any queries our offices are still open for phone calls and emails and our Officials are working if you have any questions or difficulties.
We have also asked that employers in so far as they can at this point in time, commit to re-employment of all staff when normality returns.
Please do not hesitate to contact Mandate at any time, we will continue to work on your behalf with both employers and the Government.
Yours fraternally
For Mandate Trade Union
John Douglas
General Secretary
Full letter to employers here:
