EMPLOYEES of a 4Home superstore in north Cork have begun a sit-in protest after being served with redundancy notices that come into effect on Sunday next.
The action began at about midday yesterday at the company’s Mitchelstown store, following employees’ decision to call a meeting to discuss the company’s move to issue 15 employees with redundancy notices.
A total of 40 jobs are to be lost in Cork and Limerick this weekend as three Co-op Superstores (operating under 4Home), located in New Square, Mitchelstown, Patrick Street, Fermoy and Annacotty in Limerick are to close.
The DIY and homeware chain, which is a subsidiary of Reox Holdings, a spin-off company out of Dairygold, has closed seven other stores nationwide in recent weeks, including stores in Ballincollig and Macroom.
James Morrissey, an employee with 28 years service at the Mitchelstown store, called on management to discuss an improved redundancy package for workers.
“I have been working here for the past 28 years and we are shocked and devastated at the line that has been taken.
“They handed us our redundancy notice and told us that the shop would be closing on Sunday. We got two days’ notice after all these years, it’s just not good enough,” he said.
Mr Morrissey said he and his co-workers had little chance of gaining employment elsewhere and that most of the employees had young families and were committed to high mortgages.
“We have little chance of finding jobs elsewhere. We will have no choice but to join the dole queue. But we plan to stay here at the store for as long as it takes, we are prepared to sit it out,” he added.
Employees are seeking an improved redundancy package or an offer to relocate for continued employment, Mr Morrissey said.
Lorraine O’Brien, divisional organiser for the southern region of Mandate trade union, said employees in Fermoy and Mitchelstown were shocked and devastated by the news that the store was to cease trading on Sunday.
“They had no notion that it was coming. They plan to sit in overnight and they have no intention of coming out,” Ms O’Brien said.
A 4Home spokesman acknowledged the sense of anger and hurt among staff but said the company had no option but to close three stores this week.
“It is no longer viable for the company to sustain the continuing operation of the stores as a consequence of the severe impact of the recession on the DIY and homeware sector,” the company spokesman said.
The company was anticipating that talks would take place with the employees today, he said.
The spokesman confirmed that negotiations were ongoing between 4Home and parent company Reox Holdings and Dairygold Co-op about the possible acquisition of the company’s seven remaining stores in Munster.
Employees occupying the Mitchelstown store last night said they had received support from locals and customers in the form of offers of food, cards and well wishes.