Musgrave workers vote for industrial action

Musgrave employees in Cork have voted for industrial action after rejecting a Labour Court recommendation on restructuring measures within the company.

According to union sources, the main stumbling blocks were the company’s insistence on implementing new voice technology in the groups Cork Chill warehouse and new rostering arrangements.

A spokeswoman for the Musgrave Group said the company was involved in trying to implement voice technology in its Cork Chill warehouse but denied that any issues involving rostering were at stake. She also pointed out that the technology had been introduced in all its other warehouses.

“Following a Labour Court recommendation and many months of discussions, Musgrave has sought to implement voice technology in its Cork Chill warehouse. Voice technology has already been implemented at Musgrave’s three other depots in agreement with employees and their union representatives,” she said.

The decision is believed to affect about half of the 280 staff employed at the Cork Chill warehouse.

As part of the Labour Court recommendation Cork Chill staff will receive a 5% pay rise over three years or the equivalent reduction in hours taken from Sunday and Saturday night shifts only, along with a supplementary pay rise. These are the same terms agreed across the company’s other depots.

The spokeswoman said: “Musgrave is at all times committed to working constructively with its workforce and their union representatives.

“We have engaged extensively with our employees in Cork Chill in regard to this issue and have followed all established industrial relations procedures to agree changes to the issues in dispute. Musgrave is committed to the integrity of the industrial relations process and has always implemented Labour Court recommendations.”

One of the Europe’s largest retailers, Musgrave operates the Centra, Supervalu, SuperQuinn and Londis brands. Based at Ballycurreen, Airport Road, Cork, it also operates brands in the UK and Spain.