Workers from Dunnes Store on Kieran Street in Kilkenny took strike action yesterday Thursday February, 3 in a bid to highlight what they believe are unreasonable working conditions.
The protest began yesterday morning at 7am and continued until 11pm.
Up to 120 workers protested at the three entrances to the flagship store on Kieran Street. Protesters held placards with slogans calling for action.
Workers say they took the action in a bid to address a series of ‘unilateral, anti-family changes to terms and conditions imposed upon them by management without staff consultation or agreement.’
The workers point out that direct negotiation with staff, union representatives and third party mediation by the Labour Relations Commission have all been ignored by Dunnes Stores management to date and the staff felt they had no other option but to take to the streets.
Mandate divisional organiser, Bill Kelly said the strikers had received welcome support from shoppers.
“Many potential shoppers have come to the store and turned away when they saw the protest so we are having an effect. It’s great to see public support. Many people don’t understand that the majority of workers in Dunnes are on a 15-hour week and are earning in and around the minimum wage. If you do the sums, it is hardly worth working and many of these people would be better off on the dole.
“Unfortunately, it is an employers’ world out there and they seem to think they can do what they like. It’s very unfair,” he concluded.
