The retail trade union Mandate says it will begin consultations with its store representatives at Dunnes Stores in January over possible industrial action over issues including zero-hour contracts and union recognition.

Gerry Light, the assistant general secretary of Mandate, said the consultations would "likely" lead to legal action at Dunnes, where the union represents about 40 per cent of its more than 10,000 staff. "We have reached the end of the road with Dunnes, if they won't sit down and talk to us," he said.

The Labour Court last month issued a recommendation that Dunnes sit down with workers to discuss grievances, but the company did not take part in the court process.

Brief protest

Dunnes workers organised by Mandate held a brief protest outside the company’s Dublin headquarters yesterday and presented it with a survey of workers’ attitudes to various issues within the company.

It claimed 76 per cent of workers are on part-time flexible contracts and 98 per cent want more stable hours.

Many workers at Dunnes are on low-hour contracts, although they habitually work more than those contracts, Mr Light said. The unions wants their contracts altered to guarantee them the work.

Others are on so-called zero-hour contracts, where the employees must be available for working week but are not guaranteed all of the hours.

Dunnes did not respond to a request for comment.