Talks to avert tomorrow's one-day strike by 9,500 Tesco employees have broken down at the Labour Court.
The company had offered to abolish the lower provincial rate paid in 27 of its 77 stores, which is worth about £20 a week to these staff. It had also offered to increase the starting rate from £4.85 an hour to £5.14 and the top rate from £7.41 to £7.60.
Mandate has not put a figure on its claim for new rates, but wants them to be brought in line with those at Dunnes Stores. These are slightly higher but Tesco argues that it provides other benefits, such as profit sharing and higher Christmas bonuses, which more than compensate for the lower hourly rate.
If tomorrow's strike goes ahead, Tesco stands to lose £4 million. Further one-day strikes are planned.