Boots dispute to go before LRC

Trade union representatives are to hold talks with Boots management at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in an attempt to resolve a pay dispute and head off industrial action planned for November 28.

Mandate Trade Union and Boots’ management team will hold “exploratory discussions” tomorrow and Wednesday, the union said.

“We are hopeful that these discussions can be productive and that a resolution can be achieved in the best interests of the staff and the business of Boots,” said Mandate Assistant General Secretary, Gerry Light

“We are also hopeful that both parties will enter into the LRC discussions in good faith and that they will participate sincerely in the State’s processes for resolving industrial relations disputes.”

Mandate-affiliated Boots workers voted 60:40 in favour of strike action earlier this month after the company sought pay cuts of up to 15%.

Boots, which has 57 stories across Ireland, has up to 1,700 members of staff in Ireland. Some 900 of those are members of the Mandate union.