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File photo of staff protesting outside Dunnes Stores. Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

Fears for 100 jobs after 'shock closure' of Dunnes Stores in Wexford

Staff were told of the move at 6pm this evening.

A DUNNES STORES in Gorey, Co Wexford closed suddenly this evening, leaving as many as 100 jobs up in the air, unions have claimed.

In a statement this evening, Mandate said staff were told at 6pm that the shop would be closed “until further notice”.

“This is completely unacceptable,” the union’s general secretary John Douglas said.

“At this moment in time the workers have not been told whether their jobs are at risk. We simply don’t know whether the store will open again in the future or whether there may be store transfers available,” Douglas claimed.

A notice on the door, signed Dunnes Stores Management, says the shop will be closed until further notice.

It is understood some staff are still on the premises, as the shop was due to trade this evening until 10pm.

Mandate divisional organiser Betty Dillon said staff rostered to work tomorrow have been told to come in, but they will be ‘working behind closed doors’.

“We simply don’t know what this is all about,” Dillon said, adding that some workers are in ‘floods of tears’ over the announcement.

Local Fine Gael councillor Anthony Donohoe told TheJournal.ie that staff were left in shock at the move, and that as many as 100 could be affected.

He described it as a “devastating blow”, adding that any job losses in a rural town like Gorey could have a big impact.

Dunnes Stores has been contacted for comment.

Read: Dunnes Stores agrees to pay rise but workers say that’s not good enough >

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49 Comments
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    Mute stephen kavanagh
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    May 21st 2015, 9:59 PM

    In keeping with Dunnes’ general attitude towards their staff, they couldn’t give two shits about them

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 22nd 2015, 7:26 AM

    They are taking after Walmart in this respect, who recently closed several stores suddenly for vague reasons.

    14
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    Mute Mark Sutcliffe
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    May 21st 2015, 9:57 PM

    It’s not like the management made a snap decision, they had plenty of time to tell staff, horrible way to treat any staff in my opinion

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    Mute Skippy
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    May 21st 2015, 10:46 PM

    They were waiting for enda and Richard to arrive for the announcement but they didn’t turn up…..apparently they go to all the job announcements

    180
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    Mute Deco James Connolly
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    May 21st 2015, 11:07 PM

    They were they when the store opened back in the day.

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    Mute Jason
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    May 21st 2015, 11:48 PM

    Nope, Dunnes Gorey opened when Bertie was Taoiseach, but don’t let facts get in the way.

    114
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    Mute Ciaran O'Reilly
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    May 21st 2015, 9:56 PM

    Supposedly they closed the store due to a dispute with the shopping centre management.

    312
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    Mute RonanM
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    May 21st 2015, 10:05 PM

    If thats the case it will soon reopen, a shopping centre cant really trade if the main operator closes…

    252
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    Mute Ciaran O'Reilly
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    May 21st 2015, 10:07 PM

    For the the staffs sake I hope so.. I wouldn’t be surprised if Dunnes are calling the centres bluff. Not sure what exactly the disputes about but still bad form either way.

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    Mute RonanM
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    May 21st 2015, 10:09 PM

    Most likely rent I expect.

    134
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    Mute Frank Jones
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    May 21st 2015, 10:13 PM

    Workers being used as pawns in Dunnes! Would that happen?

    198
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    Mute Margaret Deacon
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    May 21st 2015, 10:14 PM

    Dunnes own the unit so no rent issue

    120
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    Mute Sam
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    May 21st 2015, 10:22 PM

    Isn’t the shopping centre itself up for sale?

    59
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    Mute Kerry Blake
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    May 21st 2015, 9:58 PM

    Nice but sure what else would you expect in a working environment where the government creates something like scambridge.

    146
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    Mute Emily Elephant
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    May 21st 2015, 10:34 PM

    Dunnes’ behaviour is attributable to government policies? So when a company treats its employees well, is that attributable to government policies as well, or just the bad stuff,?

    71
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    Mute were not jamming
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    May 22nd 2015, 12:02 AM

    Kerrie is an idiot with no comprehension of life

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 22nd 2015, 7:30 AM

    The government treats its employees at lot better than Dunnes does.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    May 21st 2015, 10:00 PM

    I don’t think ever heard of Dunnes stores doing something like this before . worrying time for the staff .

    144
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    Mute John Looney
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    May 21st 2015, 10:04 PM

    Are they this vindictive to shut down a store to scare staff into submission so they won’t strike again and be good little slaves. It’ll be interesting to see if they’ll comment.

    142
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    Mute Jim Brady
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    May 21st 2015, 10:28 PM

    Or, if you like to put it another way, the business had to shut because it was completely unsustainable.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    May 21st 2015, 10:31 PM

    It’ll be nothing to do with the strike , if it’s a dispute with centre management then most likely then it’s most likely to do with security , the store can’t open if the shopping centre doesn’t provide mail security .something to do with insurance I think

    34
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    Mute Al Ca
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    May 21st 2015, 10:00 PM

    New shock tactics by Dunnes management to scare workers from voicing dissent?

    140
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    Mute Tallaght two
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    May 21st 2015, 11:13 PM

    If you don’t like how Dunnes treats is workers (and many here don’t ) stop shopping there. I dont. Cash is king. Floundering sales would bring Dunnes to heel pretty quickly I would wager.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    May 22nd 2015, 12:07 AM

    That would just result in job losses .

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    Mute Daniel Kelso
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    May 22nd 2015, 12:52 AM

    Well not really cos if you spend elsewhere then that place will expand thus needing more staff, thus creating jobs.

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    May 22nd 2015, 8:27 AM

    If Dunnes sakes drop because people refuse to shop there , then Dunnes stores staff will be let go and that would only make the situation worse .

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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    May 22nd 2015, 8:27 AM

    *sales*

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    Mute Bobby Bourke
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    May 21st 2015, 10:38 PM

    Typical of Dunnes, no respect for workers, lack of communication always
    a factor within this company.

    82
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    Mute Jeanette McDonald
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    May 21st 2015, 10:13 PM

    Awful, awful, awful.

    64
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    Mute Michael Sands
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    May 21st 2015, 10:11 PM

    Some clown be on this news story to say VOTE YES and yet look at what this government has done… Nothing for the poor and if you have money they have a referendum for you…

    41
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    Mute IrishGravyTrain
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    May 21st 2015, 10:13 PM

    What

    88
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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 22nd 2015, 7:33 AM

    Dod Michael just try to tell us to vote against gay people because the government isn’t nice?

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    Mute mark lobbe
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    May 21st 2015, 11:34 PM

    Out with the old in with the aldi/lidl

    35
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    Mute Hank Schrader
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    May 21st 2015, 10:43 PM

    Smoke that Mr Union man.. Play hard ball with them and they’ll throw it back at you just as hard.

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    Mute Randle P McMurphy
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    May 21st 2015, 11:01 PM

    Ould Ben(not Coke, sorry, Gym Ben) would be very proud of his daughter, Peggy. A true chip offa the block in her dealings with and utter destain for the unions. Just such a pity(as always) that the innocent workers will be the ones to suffer. The Dunne/Heffernans will still be multiple-millionaires and the union hacks will still be employed with pensions etc after this store owner doles out a ‘lesson’ to the plebs!

    53
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    Mute Suzie Sunsine
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    May 22nd 2015, 12:09 AM

    His daughter Peggy ?

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    Mute Neal Ireland Hello
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    May 22nd 2015, 7:31 AM

    What Union are your referring to, Hank? Dunnes staff don’t have union representation.

    3
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    Mute Randle P McMurphy
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    May 22nd 2015, 11:44 AM

    Margaret…was being facetious ..:-)

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    Mute Randle P McMurphy
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    May 22nd 2015, 11:53 AM

    Neal..Mandate represents in Dunnes…

    1
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    Mute Bernadette Bolger
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    May 22nd 2015, 1:07 AM

    Awful for the workers and for our little town in general.

    25
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    Mute Catherine Hayward
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    May 22nd 2015, 1:23 AM

    Thats horrible poor workers

    16
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    Mute Irish Druid
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    May 22nd 2015, 6:03 AM

    Is this a lockout in disguise.

    6
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    Mute mammy
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    May 22nd 2015, 8:04 AM

    This closure could have something to do with the tesco effect. A new super duper monster mega tesco opened up last year a stones throw from dunnes in gorey.

    3
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    Mute Neil Kavanagh
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    May 22nd 2015, 9:10 AM

    Yes they do.

    1
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