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Launching of the Decency for Dunnes Workers Campaign at Mandate's Biennial Delegate Conference in Killarney, Co. Kerry. Mandate/Facebook

Union hits out at Dunnes over workers' contracts lower than 15 hours per week

Mandate launched the ‘Decency for Dunnes Workers Campaign at the unions Biennial Delegate Conference in Killarney.

MANDATE TRADE UNION has hit out at supermarket retailer Dunnes Stores over its alleged use of workers contracts that are lower than 15 hours a week.

Launching a campaign yesterday for workers’ rights within the company, the union said that the company entered a national agreement with Mandate in 1996 that guaranteed workers would be offered contracts for over 15 hours per week or more.

“It is simply unacceptable to enter into an agreement with your staff only to walk away from it without any explanation. We want the company to implement the terms of the 1996 agreement with immediate effect and allow our members the right to representation that they are entitled to,” said Mandate Assistant General Secretary Gerry Light.

4,000 workers

Mandate, which represents more than 4,000 workers in Dunnes Stores, said the campaign – ‘Decency for Dunnes Workers Campaign ‘ – is being launched in order to tackle Dunnes workers rights nationally and to bring employment conditions in line with the company’s major competitors in the retail sector.

The union alleges that the supermarket chain is now offering contracts lower than the agreed 15 hours, as well as having a multitude of pay rates for staff and the use of temporary and fixed-term contracts.

Speaking at the union’s Biennial Delegate Conference in Killarney in County Kerry yesterday, Light said:

There has been a dramatic increase in precarious work across the Irish retail sector and we have serious concerns based on feedback from our members that the employment standards in Dunnes Stores have deteriorated in recent years.

Our members are demanding that the company address their key issues of concern. In this context, the union will be lodging a substantial claim with the company in the immediate future addressing all of the pertinent issues including a claim for a pay increase.

No engagement

Speaking to TheJournal.ie, a spokesperson for the union said the Dunnes will not engage with them in any way, despite numerous attempts.

Mandate state that Dunnes Stores “is the most successful Irish owned retailer” employing 14,000 workers across 116 stores in the Republic of Ireland.

Therefore, Mandate said they believe the campaign is an important step in the fight for decent work in the Irish retail sector.

They have four key demands from the retailer; decent working hours, job security, fair pay and the right to union representation.

Light said Mandate would work to secure banded hour contracts for Dunnes workers, similar to those that workers have in Tesco, Supervalu and Penneys.

Attempts were made to contact a representative from Dunnes Stores, however no reply was received prior to publication.

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26 Comments
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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Mar 6th 2017, 1:40 PM

    Look underneath this crime, they were breeding dogs to sell pups and making money from it. So all you people out there, buying puppies for their little ones and getting rid of them afterwards. You played a part in this crime, stop buying puppies/kittens FFS and put this sick trade out of business.

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    Mute Patrick Pints
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    Mar 6th 2017, 1:43 PM

    @Stephen murphy: well at least thats 3 backstreet dog breeders out of business. Imagine how they treated the animals ?

    68
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    Mute Michael J
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    Mar 6th 2017, 1:57 PM

    Stephen talking BS as usual. He thinks little kids who want a dog are somehow complicit in this man killing his partner in crime. Priceless.

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    Mute Mick Jordan
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    Mar 6th 2017, 2:04 PM

    Michael J. It’s not the Kids that fork out the Hundreds of Euro but the parents.

    47
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    Mute Patrick Pints
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    Mar 6th 2017, 2:06 PM

    @Michael J: the killing was the result of degenerates who profited on the back of unregulated animal breeding. hopefully social welfare looks for their dole to be repaid back.

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    Mute Stephen murphy
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    Mar 6th 2017, 6:34 PM

    @Michael J: If that’s true, then it takes a bs to know one and have you not the intelligence to see it’s the parents who buy the pets?

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    Mute tea biccies
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    Mar 6th 2017, 2:55 PM

    I knew Mr. Nevin. He was no saint. Him and his buddies kicked a man to death not very long ago

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    Mute Patrick Pints
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    Mar 6th 2017, 8:30 PM

    @tea biccies: karma eh

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    Mute HoneyBadger617
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    Mar 6th 2017, 2:20 PM

    It just goes to show you the type of people these are. Killing a man over a dog. Behind bars and in a cage they are where they belong

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    Mute Ananya Sharma
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    Mar 6th 2017, 3:10 PM

    Ruff justice has been served.

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    Mute beans not peas
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    Mar 6th 2017, 2:04 PM

    That’s woof justice

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    Mute Gary Rowe
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    Mar 6th 2017, 1:40 PM

    Why the gavel? You know they’re not used here …

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    Mute Ciarán Masterson
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    Mar 6th 2017, 2:10 PM

    Anyone who gets involved in an horrific incident like this involving a dog is barking mad.

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    Mute John003
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    Mar 6th 2017, 3:03 PM

    Amazed the judge did not rule final.two years of sentence suspended……Must be the harshest sentence for manslaughter ever….Normally it is 7 with 2 suspended…

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    Mute Emmet O'Keeffe
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    Mar 6th 2017, 4:22 PM

    A sad reflection on the mindset of many young Irishmen these days.
    One man dead, one serving life for murder and a third sent down for manslaughter.
    Why?
    War?
    A tribal dispute?
    Land?
    Religion?
    No.
    A few quid from dog breeding.

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    Mute DirectlyElectedMayor
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    Mar 7th 2017, 4:56 PM
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