Updated 10.46pm
WORKERS AT A children’s clothing store in Blanchardstown Centre staged a sit-in after being told their jobs are gone with immediate effect.
Pumpkin Patch has two stores in the capital, Blanchardstown and Liffey Valley, with a total of 21 people employed between them.
Employees were handed a letter today informing them that Deloitte have been placed as liquidators on the company which will go into liquidation on 14 December. It read:
Therefore, we hereby give notice of termination of your employment with the company by reason of redundancy effective immediately, 2 December 2016, due to the company’s insolvency.
“We can confirm that you will be paid your salary up to 27 November 2016,” the letter added.
Anti-Austerity Alliance TD Ruth Coppinger visited the staff at the store today and said the women there have been employed at the company for between three to six years.
About nine women refused to leave the store until they were paid the week’s wages they were due.
The women negotiated with the liquidator until they resolved the issue and were paid the week’s wages in cash.
Store manager Edel Lynch said that the women were initially offered a cash payment of €200 but held out to ensure they were paid for week they had worked.
Many of the women who worked in the store have families and are facing tight budgets for Christmas, Lynch said
“It’s been resolved, not to the extent that people would have wanted but at least to an extent that they can work with,” she added.
Lynch said that the women knew the Australian-owned company was facing some financial trouble but were led to believe their jobs were safe until at least the new year:
While it wasn’t a massive shock, the way it happened was a massive shock. To get no notice at any time of year is wrong but especially at this time of year.
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