29 Guineys, Talbot Street & Clerys – Naas, Sandyford & Blanchardstown workers hand in letter to Gordon Brothers expressing frustration at their treatment after years of loyal service

Tuesday 2 October 2012

At 2:00 on Tuesday the 2^nd of October, a delegation of Guineys and Clery’s workers handed in a letter to Malcolm MacAulay, Chief Operating Officer of Gordon Brothers Europe. The letter notes their annoyance and frustration at the manner in which that they have been treated by Gordon Brothers and its failure to secure their employment and the demise of their pension scheme.

The group called on the Gordon Brothers to enter into meaningful discussions with their Unions, Mandate and SIPTU, to reach an agreement that will address their current situation.

The workers began a protest on Tuesday after news emerged last week that Guineys & Co on Dublin’s Talbot street which is a sister shop to Clerys and Clerys- Naas, Sandyford and Blanchardstown, has been put into liquidationand will close down with the loss of 29 jobs.

The letter which was handed in to Clerys flagship store on O’ Connell Street pointed to the fact that many of the workers were long serving employees with an average 25/30 years service. They group commented that they had co-operated fully with all the cost-cutting measures introduced by Clerys Management in the belief that they were securing the future of the business and in doing so their jobs.

The group said: “We feel utterly betrayed and implore Gordon Brothers to treat us in a moral and proper manner. The failure of Gordon Brothers to recognise our loyalty to Clerys is deplorable and we seek that they recognise this by rewarding us in a proper manner for our long loyal service.”

Its sister store Cleerys has been sold to an American private equity group Gordon Brothers, just hours after it was placed into receivership. The giant department store will continue to trade as usual.

The group said: “We feel utterly betrayed and implore Gordon Brothers to treat us in a moral and proper manner. The failure of Gordon Brothers to recognise our loyalty to Clerys is deplorable and we seek that they recognise this by rewarding us in a proper manner for our long loyal service.”