STAFF FROM GUINEYS and Clerys held a protest outside Clerys on O’Connell St today to express their frustration after the stores were put into liquidation.

They met outside the remaining Clery’s store that was taken over by American private equity group Gordon Brothers and which is trading as usual.

The 29 staff handed in a letter to Malcolm MacAulay, Chief Operating Officer of Gordon Brothers Europe during the protest.

The letter describes their “annoyance and frustration” at the manner in which they have been treated by Gordon Brothers “and its failure to secure their employment and the demise of their pension scheme”.

The group called on the Gordon Brothers to enter into meaningful discussions with their Unions, Mandate and SIPTU, to reach an agreement that will address their current situation.

Guineys & Co on Dublin’s Talbot Street, which is a sister shop to Clerys and Clerys Naas, Sandyford and Blanchardstown, has been put into liquidation and will close down with the loss of 29 jobs.

The letter pointed to the fact that many of the workers were long serving employees with an average of 25/30 years service. The group said that they had “co-operated fully with all the cost-cutting measures introduced by Clerys management in the belief that they were securing the future of the business and in doing so their jobs”.

We feel utterly betrayed and implore Gordon Brothers to treat us in a moral and proper manner. The failure of Gordon Brothers to recognise our loyalty to Clerys is deplorable and we seek that they recognise this by rewarding us in a proper manner for our long loyal service.”