Marks & Spencer dispute goes ahead
Saturday 7 December 2013Company plans up to 20% income cut for workers
Mandate Trade Union can confirm that the majority of Marks & Spencer stores throughout Ireland are closed to the public today (Saturday, 7th Dec) as a result of strike action by the more than 2,000 of their members.
However, it appears the company are attempting to open a number of their smaller outlets by utilizing temporary seasonal staff. This move is not only provocative in nature, but it is a total abuse of these type of workers who never envisaged when they signed up for work over the Christmas period they would be used in such a crude fashion to effectively break a legitimate and legal industrial dispute.
The initial reaction from the picket lines this morning is that workers are astonished their employer has allowed the dispute to escalate to this stage.
The company is stubbornly refusing to roll back on the unilateral implementation of cost saving measures without agreement with the workers’ union.
Some of the workers are incredibly facing the reality of up to a 20 percent income cut if the full cost saving programme as envisaged by management is implemented which includes:
- A reduction in the Sunday and Public Holiday premium;
- The elimination of the Christmas bonus;
- A reduction in the number of Section Managers.
The most sinister part for some is the total loss of income as a result of being made compulsorily redundant.
The company has already implemented changes to the workers’ pension scheme which will mean a number of the workers will lose six percent of their income.
This is completely unacceptable according to Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary, who says the cumulative effect of the planned cuts is too big a burden for the workers to pay as their company pursues even higher profits.
“Marks & Spencer management has given limited access to their financial accounts to Mandate and it is our opinion, based on the current trading situation, the imperative for this range of radical cost cutting measures does not exist.
“Let us be very clear about this; our members do not want to be out on the streets and in shopping centre’s picketing their employer. These are very loyal workers, some of whom have worked for thirty odd years for this company.
“Obviously, when their employer unilaterally began implementing their cost savings programme, the workers were left with no option but to take industrial action,” he said.
Mr Light said the company are solely responsible for today’s industrial action but they have the capacity to resolve this dispute if they are willing to do so.
He said, “However, based on their comments reported this morning, such a willingness does not exist. The company is stating that regardless of this industrial action by their workers they will proceed with the restructuring plans for the Irish business,” he said.
“This is not conciliatory language and this type of behavior runs totally contrary to the impression given by management that they are prepared to enter meaningful negotiations.”
Mr Light added, “It also confirms the belief held by the unions and their members that management believe they can impose changes to their terms and conditions without agreement.”
Mr Light called for the public to support the twenty four hour strike and not to purchase M&S products online.
“We’re asking the public to support these workers who are taking the very brave decision to stand up for themselves and their families against such a powerful employer. Obviously shopping online will undermine their efforts so we’re asking people not purchase products online today,” concluded Mr Light.
There are plans for two more days of industrial action in the run up to Christmas including Thursday, 12th and Friday, 20th December.
