Union calls on Dunnes to attend Labour Court hearing

The Mandate trade union is calling on Dunnes Stores to attend a Labour Court hearing this morning on pay and conditions for their staff.

The retailer did not attend a previous session at the Labour Relations Commission where the issues were discussed.

Dunnes Stores employs 14,000 people across the country, and the union is making a number of demands in areas relating to work hours and earnings.

Jerry Light, Assistant General Secretary of Mandate, says their members are a vital part of the economy.

"We want some measure introduced that are now effectively commonplace across all of Dunnes' main competitors," he said.

"And I think principle amongst them is to ensure that on a weekly basis, our members and their families have sufficient income that they can depend on to allow them to participate in the society in which they live.

"After all, retail workers are very much the cornerstone of any recovery."