UNION REPRESENTATIVES are to meet with staff at Marks & Spencer stores around the country to discuss options and redundancy terms after the retail giant announced it was closing four shops in Ireland.
An estimated 180 people are to lose their jobs with the closure of the M&S stores in Mullingar, Tallaght, Dún Laoghaire and Naas in the coming weeks. M&S said the stores had remained unprofitable during what had been a “very challenging” time for businesses in Ireland.
SIPTU, which represents staff at the four stores, is to talk to staff about the consequences arising from the planned closures.
SIPTU organiser Neil McGowan said the announcement was a “devastating shock for the workers and their families”.
“These job losses are yet another indication of the weakened demand in the domestic economy, and the retail sector in particular, that has been accentuated by the continued economic austerity policies being pursued by the Government,” said McGowan.
There was a double blow for the retail sector yesterday with the news that 102 jobs are to be lost at Superquinn as the supermarket rebrands as SuperValu.
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