Tesco workers ready to strike because of cut in hours

Strike notice was today served on 19 Tesco stores around the country amid claims some workers have had more than €100 knocked off their wages.

The Mandate trade union maintains a dispute around the company breaching an existing agreement regarding reduction of workers hours has caused the industrial action.

Its Tesco members voted 95% in favour of strike action, which will start on Thursday July 2.

Two more days of walkouts are planned for Thursday and Friday, July 9 and 10.

Mandate’s Linda Tanham said: “Some of our members are losing out on over €100 per week due to unreasonable and unnecessary cutbacks in working hours and it should be remembered that some of these are already low paid workers.

“This is of particular concern for Mandate when you consider that the company made approximately €250m in profits last year in Ireland alone and over €3.1bn internationally.”

The union alleges the company breached a 2006 agreement by reducing roistered hours.

It is claimed some workers, who for example are on a band of 25 – 30 hour contracts, have had their hours unnecessarily reduced below the minimum amount agreed in contract.

Mandate said it remains available to meet with the company in an effort to resolve the issues in dispute.

Ms Tanham continued: “We are all facing difficult times and it’s clear from Mandate’s perspective that we have to behave reasonably and responsibly if a company is in financial difficulty.

“Having said that, we will not accept companies playing off the recession and we will fight to maintain and improve the living standards of our members.”

The stores affected are: Arklow, Ashbourne, Bloomfield, Carlow, Crumlin, Gorey, Greystones, New Street in Killarney, Longford, Naas, Navan, Newbridge, Omni, Poleberry, Rathfarnham, Roscrea, Roxboro, Tralee Manor, and Wicklow.