4HOME WORKERS OPT FOR PICKET ACTION

It seems like the battle lines have been drawn as the MANDATE trade union this week serves notice of industrial action on 4Home SuperStores. The union says the workers involved in the dispute will now picket the company on Tuesday next, September 1.

It is expected that pickets will be placed at the 4Homes premises at Clonmel Road, Mitchelstown, where over 20 people still continue to be employed, and also at the Dublin Road outlet in Fermoy as well as other premises at Carrigaline, Midleton, Mallow, Cashel and Raheen, Limerick.

The dispute in 4Home's centres around the compulsory redundancy of 24 workers in stores in Mitchelstown and Fermoy. The union claimed that no discussions took place between management and the union prior to the redundancy announcements despite agreements being already in place to do so.

Following the redundancy announcement, the staff began a sit-in protest on Thursday, August 13 which lasted for two days. On request from the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), the staff agreed to withdraw from their action in order for a negotiations process to begin between their union and management.

MANDATE'S divisional organiser, Lorraine O’Brien said: “The talks in the LRC broke down as a result of the company refusing to budge on their offer of statutory redundancy for their staff members. The workers are obviously extremely disappointed and upset at the outcome and this has shown through with an overwhelming vote in favour of industrial action.”

Ms O’Brien said she was extremely frustrated with the attitude of the company towards the workers and the lack of progress made through negotiations.

“You have to question the company’s use of the state mechanisms for resolving disputes when it appears they had no intention of increasing their offer or engaging in meaningful negotiations.

James Morrissey, one of the aggrieved former workers at 4Homes in Mitchelstown, told The Avondhu, “ We got nothing from the negotiations on Monday last. It’s a complete deadlock and we’re now determined to fight for our rights by mounting the picket next Tuesday. We’re not looking for anything extra, just the same package as previous Dairygold workers got.”

He added, “We were over three and a half hours at the table but the company never moved an inch.”

Another staff member commented, “We are all very disappointed by the company’s actions. It’s clear to us now that they had no intention of trying to resolve the dispute amicably. They seem to have used the LRC to prolong the dispute and get us to end our sit-in when they really had no intention of compromising or negotiating with our union.”

MANDATE say that Dairygold, which is a part owner of the 4Homes stores, is about to retake ownership of seven out of the ten 4Home Stores it transferred to Reox Holdings in 2006 and that it should be possible to include the workers transfer as part of the deal.

“We’re very disappointed by the fact that 4Home’s has refused to allow transfers of workers in these stores to other stores throughout the region. There is a strong case for allowing transfers to other stores which would mean workers would maintain an income in this very difficult economic period for them and their families,” said Ms O’Brien.

A spokesperson for 4Home’s, while not wishing to comment extensively on the threat of a picket, said, “Any threat of industrial action is regrettable and counter-productive. Such action may jeopardise further jobs.”

 

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