Costello urges minister to intervene in Dunnes dispute

24 March 2015

by Cllr Joe Costello

Speech to Dáil Éireann by Joe Costello TD on Dunnes Stores Topical Issue

Speaking in Dáil Éireann in a Topical Issues debate, Joe Costello TD has urged the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation, Richard Bruton, to intervene in the dispute at Dunnes Stores. Secondly, he has urged Dunnes Stores to engage in normal industrial relations and attend the Labour Court.

Deputy Costello said “Workers at Dunnes are campaigning on four keys issues—secure hours and incomes, secure jobs, fair pay and the right to be represented by their trade union.

“Unfortunately, for too many Dunnes employees, the precarious nature of their employment makes it impossible to them to have a decent standard of living or to plan for the future. The workers have made it clear how difficult it is for them to go week-to-week never knowing when or how many hours they will work.

“Dunnes is a highly profitable company. It has 23.8pc of the retail market, 10,000 employees in the Republic of Ireland, and an annual turnover of €2.2 billion and an estimated profit of €300— 400m. It is only fair that the company in this position should negotiate with their employees to ensure the workers are provided with decent work and conditions. It is a deeply regrettable that Dunnes has refused an invitation from Mandate Trade Union to negotiate directly or to engage with the State’s industrial relations mechanisms. The Labour Court has also urged both parties to engage in order to resolve the dispute; sadly, this request has been met with silence.

“It is only after every available avenue open to the workers has been exhausted that Mandate has balloted for industrial action. This industrial action is scheduled to take place on Thursday, 2nd of April 2015, and I would hope that, before that date, Dunnes will have a change of heart, use the excellent industrial relations mechanisms available to it, and engage in negotiations, as it has often done in the past.

“I welcome the work that Minister Ged Nash has been doing in relation to precarious employment, and I believe that the study he has commissioned into the nature and occurrence of such work will provide useful information on how we deal with it in the future. This study is due to report within the next few months. While waiting for this work to be completed, we must take whatever steps we can to progress decent work and conditions for ordinary workers.

“While recognising the voluntary nature of the State’s industrial relations mechanisms, I urge Minister Bruton to make every effort to encourage Dunnes to come to the negotiating table and reach a mutually satisfactory outcome.”