Dunnes worker sacked for union badge gets job back

A 22-YEAR-OLD woman who was sacked by Dunnes Stores last November for wearing a union badge is getting her job back.

Joanne Delaney declared last night that the climbdown by the company was “a victory for trade unions”.

A courier delivered a letter from Dunnes Stores to Ms Delaney’s home in Crumlin yesterday evening.

It was the first correspondence she had received from the company since she was sacked from its Ashleaf store in Crumlin on November 29 last.

“I’m in total shock, but I knew from day one that justice would prevail,” she said.

Ms Delaney added that she intends to return to work on Monday morning and will continue to wear the Mandate union membership badge. The shop steward said there were no conditions mentioned in the letter from Dunnes Stores.

“I’m definitely going back and I will definitely wear the badge. I want to thank all the political parties who supported me, the Mandate trade union and the public,” a delighted Ms Delaney added.

The campaign to reinstate her led to petitions being signed by thousands of people and protests outside Dunnes Stores outlets in Ireland and Britain. Her case was raised in the Dáil, the Houses of Commons and the Scottish Parliament.

Mandate said the offer of a re-instatement was a huge victory for trade unions.

Dunnes Stores claimed the badge was in breach of company policy, but a number of Dunnes Stores branches allow staff to wear badges including Tallaght and the Ilac shopping centre in Dublin.

The company has never made a statement on the case.