Updated: 18:41
AT 7AM MONDAY Tesco workers will picket at over 70 Tesco outlets across Ireland.
The workers are protesting changes to conditions of employment for up to 300 staff members who have been employees since before 1996.
Mandate Trade Union said that the changes include:
Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary, described the move as “disgraceful”.
He added:
These changes will seriously undermine living standards for our members who have mortgages and other commitments which were made on the back of their conditions of employment over the last 20-30 years
He also claimed that the strikes will go on indefinitely until there are proposals that Tesco staff are willing to accept. ”Like all issues to be resolved, it has to be solved by negotiation,” said Light.
Tesco Ireland have responded saying that they are “disappointed” with the strike announcement.
We remain committed to reaching agreement on this issue and earlier this week we formally tabled a generous proposal for compensation for colleagues in scope. We need to make this change in order to improve our customer service at our busiest times of the week.
What will this mean for Tesco customers?
“Well it means that customers won’t be able to shop in Tesco,” said Mandate Assistant General Secretary, Gerry Light.
He claimed that there is a variety of other shops available and that customers won’t lose out, but that Tesco will lose very valuable sales.
However, Tesco Ireland have said that the stores and online service will open for business on Monday as usual.
The exact locations of the pickets are not yet known, but will be released in the next few days.
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