Staff at a branch of Dunnes Stores in Co Wexford, which closed to the public last week, are continuing to work at the store, their union representative has said.
Bill Kelly, divisional organiser with Mandate, said the more than 100 staff were told by management on Monday they should continue to attend the Gorey store for their rostered hours. They understand they will continue to be paid.
Dunnes Stores closed the branch, at Gorey Shopping Centre, last Thursday. This followed a successful injunction, obtained at the High Court, to prevent the company from continuing to use a door that opened directly onto the centre’s carpark.
The injunction was taken by Paul McCann and Stephen Tennant of Grant Thornton, who were appointed by AIB to run the centre.
Breach of lease claim
They complained the use of the door was a breach of Dunnes’ lease obligations and the net effect was that customers could bypass smaller traders in the shopping centre.
Grant Thornton has also been appointed to run five other shopping centres by the bank and is reported to be on the verge of selling all to US investment fund Davidson Kempner.
Mr Kelly said staff are approximately two weeks into a four-week roster and are continuing to work “behind closed doors”.
Other than telling staff to continue working their roster, management have not given them any further information, he said. They have also not responded to a letter sent by the union seeking clarification of the workers’ position.
Mr Kelly said it was unacceptable for members to be used as pawns.
“It is unfortunately typical of the way Dunnes behave,” he said.
The majority of companies will sit down with the union in a reasonable fashion and carry out their business through negotiation, Mr Kelly said.
He said the store closure has been very stressful for all of the individuals involved.
“At this point, they do not know how the dispute is going to end or when,” he said.
He called on the company to respond to the union’s correspondence and ease workers’ concerns.
Questions put to Dunnes Stores by The Irish Times were not responded to.
