Mandate disappointed at further delays in Boots negotiations

Friday 2 August 2013

Mandate Trade Union says that Boots workers are both frustrated and disappointment at the company’s request to go back to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) for another conciliation hearing.

The union says that negotiations for a pay increase have been ongoing since June 2012, more than one year ago, and yet the company are still seeking clarifications and making incorrect interpretations of the existing collective agreement from 2009.

Mandate Divisional Organiser Brendan O’Hanlon said, “We believe the company’s actions represent nothing more than a smokescreen to further delay the workers’ claims for a fair and appropriate pay increase for all Boots workers.

“It is totally unacceptable that the company continually attempts to cause confusion among staff in the hope that their anger and frustration will wane over time. From what we’re hearing on the ground, this issue is not going away,” he said.

Mandate has written to the LRC to confirm their attendance under the provision that the company confirm the following in advance:

1. That the company outline in detail their final position and engage in a meaningful manner.
2. In the absence of any agreement, the company commit to attend the Labour Court on a joint referral basis.

Mandate is seeking a 3% pay increase for all workers in Boots and the unfreezing of increments.

The union says this is the least the company can do to acknowledge the enormous contribution the workers have made to the success of the company in Ireland.

Boots has achieved profits of €40m and paid out dividends of more than €110m to shareholders during the past three years, despite workers receiving no cost of living increases.

Meanwhile, the Boots workers have received enormous support from the public through an online and physical petition which was launched a number of weeks ago. You can sign the online survey at www.tinyurl.com/BootsPetition or you can download a hard copy online at www.mandate.ie.

You can download a hard copy of this update which you can print and share with your colleagues by clicking here.