THE Mandate general secretary said yesterday he has sought an early meeting with Tesco to discuss the implications of its takeover of the Quinnsworth chain for the union's 8,000 members working there. Mr Owen Nulty said: "We want urgent talks to go in greater depth into what their plans are.
An initial meeting had been held and he welcomed Tesco's commitments to the Government and suppliers. At the first meeting with Mandate the company had indicated that existing personnel structures would not be changed significantly and that it had similar structures in Britain.
But the union wanted to discuss in more detail the company's strategic plans in the Republic, issues such as how many existing stores would be retained and if there were plans to expand or relocate stores. One major difference in Ireland was that Tesco would now own non food outlets in the Lifestyle chain, as well as Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices.
He was optimistic industrial relations with the firm would be good. Mandate had close relations with its British counterpart, USDAW, and that union's experience showed Tesco was a good employer. "They honour agreements but that doesn't mean we may not have to chase them sometimes."
On Sunday trading, Mr Nulty welcomed improvements in legislation to ensure premium rates would be paid to people working on Sunday and that they could voluntarily opt out. But he warned the Government and other political parties that Mandate would make Sunday trading an election issue.
The union was not calling for a total ban on Sunday trading but for it to be regulated in a way that would protect employees and the quality of family life.
A Dunnes Stores shop steward, Mr Peter Ryan, said his employer had received a lot of good publicity over its decision not to open on Easter Monday. But he said the company had only finally decided not to open on Easter Monday when it became clear employees were standing firm and refusing to work for less than treble time.
In his branch there was now late opening six days a week. "We need controls on trading hours. It's a dog eat dog world out there and if we let Dunnes Stores get away with opening all hours, we will have Debenhams and Marks & Spencer looking for it. The quality of life is going down the drain over it."
Mandate passed a motion calling for 3 p.m. closing on Christmas Eve to allow shopworkers to have time to prepare for Christmas with their families.
Meanwhile, the dispute between Mandate and Dunnes over pay rates for working the four Sundays before Christmas is to go to the Labour Court.