Decency for Dunnes Workers

Mandate Trade Union has referred a claim to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for better working conditions in Dunnes Stores under the recently introduced Industrial Relations (Amendment) Act 2015.

The key issues referred to the WRC include pay and certainty of hours/earnings.

The Directors of Dunnes Stores will have until the end of January to decide whether to engage with the union on these matters at the WRC. In the event that they refuse the case will then be immediately referred to the Labour Court for a hearing.

Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary said: “We’ve been doing a lot of work behind the scenes along with our members compiling research to back our case in the Workplace Relations Commission. We’re now ready to take the case and see whether this new piece of legislation has the capacity to improve the living standards of Dunnes workers and their families.”

In a letter to Dunnes workers, Mr Light said, “Your campaign for secure incomes and better working conditions is still very much alive and that your union is as determined as ever to keep pushing its core objectives until we receive a positive result for our members in Dunnes.

Mr Light emphasised the importance of all workers in Dunnes being members of their trade union: “It is vitally important that we not only maintain our current membership numbers in Dunnes but also recruit new members where possible. In order for the Labour Court to hear our case we have to first prove that we have substantial membership numbers working in the business. We believe the Court will accept that we have substantial membership but there is strength in numbers so the more workers that join Mandate in the coming weeks, the stronger our case will be.

LETTER TO DUNNES STORES WORKERS AVAILABLE HERE

27th January 2016