THE DUNNES STORES outlet in Gorey, Co. Wexford that had shut its doors in recent days is to re-open tomorrow morning.
The store had shut suddenly last Thursday following a dispute over access to a car park entrance with Gorey Shopping Centre, in which the Dunnes outlet is based.
Speaking to TheJournal.ie, general secretary of Dunnes workers’ union Mandate John Douglas confirmed that the store is to re-open while at the same time condemning the retail giant for closing the store without warning in the first place.
“The High Court injunction has been lifted for two months so the situation will be sorted out I expect,” Douglas said.
But this has turned into a high-stakes game of poker with the staff used as pawns, and we’re highly disgusted at the treatment of our members there.
Obviously we’re happy the store will re-open and that our members will be back working tomorrow.
The way Dunnes have behaved is deplorable though. There has been no information, no confirmation for staff about what’s going on, leaving them totally messed up over the last few days.
Mandate revealed last week that the Dunnes closure resulted after a High Court injunction regarding the store was granted to the shopping centre’s receiver who was angered by Dunnes’ opening an access door to the centre’s surface car park, meaning shoppers could access the car park while skipping out the mall’s other traders.
The notoriously media-shy retailer has been at loggerheads with both Mandate and its own workers over staff working conditions and contracts in recent times.
On 2 April a nationwide strike of Dunnes workers was held. In the immediate aftermath certain striking staff members were let go, with Mandate claiming they were the subject of victimisation.
Douglas believes April’s industrial action and the issues in Gorey are “not unconnected”.
“With regard to the industrial dispute itself, the issues are connected by a total lack of respect on Dunnes behalf for their workers, who have been treated with no dignity and no respect.
It’s why those self-same workers will be marching on Dunnes HQ on 6 June.
All non-rostered Dunnes staff are expected to attend the industrial rally scheduled for next month.
TheJournal.ie has contacted Dunnes for comment on this story.
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