MANDATE TRADE union, which represents workers in the retail trade, has called on the owners of Superquinn seeking assurances on job security for its staff in the context of ongoing reports of a possible sale, writes Colm Keena, Public Affairs Correspondent

Yesterday the trade union said it had received a huge amount of phone calls from worried Superquinn employees who are concerned by the media reports.

In recent weeks speculation has grown that the retail giant may be up for sale with six possible bidders including BWG (which owns Spar), Musgraves, Asda (owned by Walmart), and Sainsbury's, being mentioned. While the Superquinn chairman Simon Burke has stated that the current owners are not seeking a buyer for the business, indications are that the current owners have no principled objection to sell, if the price is right, the union said.

Assistant general secretary of Mandate Gerry Light said the union has "received a vast amount of enquiries from Superquinn members regarding recent reports that Superquinn may be for sale. Workers are concerned primarily with any possible threat to their job security.

"Mandate has written a letter to Superquinn chairman Simon Burke seeking assurances of job security amongst other items of concern for our members, but up to this point we haven't received a reply. We expect the company to respond in the next few days and are hopeful that the response will be a positive one which will reassure our members."

Mr Light said that Mandate has asked for assurances about a number of issues including:

•That Mandate members and their representatives will be informed with regard to the timing and relevant consequences of a transfer of ownership;

•That all current terms and conditions of employment will be fully honoured by any future owners;

•That Select Retail Holdings would comply with and honour the terms established through precedent whereby an agreed sum of money is set aside from any future sale and distributed amongst staff in recognition of their contribution in securing and establishing a profitable business. Mr Light said: "We are currently looking at 3,000 secure Irish jobs in Superquinn and it is essential that these are maintained and not compromised in any way through any potential sale.

"An important precedent was set at the time of the sale of Superquinn by Feargal Quinn to Select Retail Holdings in 2005. This precedent must be acknowledged by Superquinn's current owners, who will need to recognise the efforts made through their employees' commitments to the financial recovery of the business.

"Any future sale will need to take account of both the previous precedents and the collective contribution in securing and establishing a profitable business," Mr Light said.