Mandate has mounted a picket on Johnnie Fox's pub at Glencullen in the Dublin mountains in pursuit of union recognition. It claims that some of the 20 workers on the picket line have not received a pay rise in five years and that staff as young as 14 are regularly required to work late.
A union official, Ms Mandy Kane, said that management had failed to enter discussions on these and other issues. She called on customers to support the picket. The owner, Ms Geraldine McMahon, said she had paid increases due under national agreements, and that 115 other employees were working normally. She denied employing anyone as young as 14.
On trade union recognition, Ms McMahon said she preferred "one to one discussions with my staff". She would not have built the business into "an international venue if I did not treat my staff well".