Mandate to ballot Marks & Spencer workers

Friday 16 August 2013

Mandate Trade Union is to ballot their 180 Marks & Spencer members from four stores for strike action as a result of talks breaking down in the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) yesterday.

The company has refused to discuss alternatives to the compulsory redundancy notice that was issued to the workers in the Dun Laoghaire, Mullingar, Naas and Tallaght stores last week, and the union say the workers have been left with no alternative but to ballot for industrial action.

Mandate Assistant General Secretary, Gerry Light said, “Industrial action is a last resort for any worker, but the company has taken such a hard line stance on the issue of alternatives to redundancy, including the withdrawal of the deadline for the implementation of the redundancies, that we have been left with no option but to ballot this evening in all four stores.

“Management have rejected outright the possibility of redeployment through a voluntary redundancy scheme and have even refused to release details of the redundancy package that would be provided to our members, who are still adjusting to the devastating news that they will be losing their jobs,” he said.

Mandate has written to the company outlining how it is their opinion that the manner in which the company is refusing to explore possible employment alternatives is in breach of the Protection of Employment Act, 1977 and the union is calling on the company to do what is right by their workers and begin meaningful negotiations immediately.

“We are prepared to sit down with the company to discuss all of the pertinent issues at this moment in time, but we need a commitment from management that they will abide by their statutory obligations and take the threat of compulsory redundancy off the table.

“I have no doubt that if this is done, it would assist the union and the company in achieving the greatest possible outcome for both the company and the workers,” said Mr Light.

Mandate will ballot all members this evening, Friday, 16th August 2013 and will release the result of the ballot on Monday, 19th August 2013. Mandate has also informed the company that the situation has the potential for escalation if positive engagement with the union is not implemented without further unnecessary delay.

Mr Light said, “The Company’s behaviour on this issue doesn’t bode well for our forthcoming negations on other matters, and all of our Marks & Spencer members throughout Ireland need to be conscious of this.”

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