Striking Musgrave staff reject calls to return to work

Striking staff at Musgrave’s chill warehouse in Cork rejected company calls to return to work last night and vowed to continue their dispute indefinitely.

Up to 70 Siptu members picketed the retail firm’s offices on Tramore Road yesterday in a row over the implementation of a Labour Court recommendation which includes a 5% pay rise.

The company, however, yesterday activated a contingency plan to ensure deliveries continued from the chill warehouse which manages the storage and distribution of chilled products to its vast network of SuperValu and Centra stores.

A spokesperson said it was business as usual despite the strike.

The company wants to introduce new voice technology at the chill warehouse.

Following months of negotiations, the Labour Court issued a recommendation which would see the Cork chill warehouse staff receive a 5% pay rise over three years, or the equivalent reduction in hours taken from Sunday and Saturday night shifts only, together with a supplementary pay rise.

The company said voice technology has already been implemented at its three other depots — at Fonthill, Cork Ambient and Kilcock — in agreement with employees and union representatives.

But as the company tried to start voice training for staff last Wednesday, Siptu served strike notice.

Siptu official Karan O’Loughlin said the 135 warehouse staff affected by the move felt they had to take a stand.

She accused Musgrave of trying to force through the Labour Court recommendation without agreement, and without delivering on a range of previous commitments.

The technology, roster changes and pay are not the primary issues, she said.

“A lot of the issues in this dispute arise from what our people would see as commitments entered in to a number of years ago about their working arrangements, Sundays and nights obligations, and the company haven’t delivered on that,” she said.

And she called on the company to engage in dialogue on all the issues.

However, a spokesperson for Musgrave said the company has at all times “engaged extensively” with the staff in Cork Chill and has followed all standard industrial relations procedures to agree changes to the work practices under dispute.

“Musgrave is very disappointed with today’s work stoppage,” she said.

“The company is at all times committed to working constructively with its workforce and their union representatives.

“Musgrave is committed to implementing voice technology in accordance with the Labour Court recommendation and the training was step one of that process.

“As part of the changes recommended, employees at Cork Chill will receive a 5% pay rise over three years or the equivalent reduction in hours taken from Sunday and night shifts only, along with a supplementary pay rise.

“These are the same terms agreed across our other depots, with all changes required to ensure that the company remains competitive in these very challenging times.”

She said the company is committed to the integrity of the industrial relations process and has always implemented Labour Court recommendations.

“Musgrave calls on all employees involved to return to work with immediate effect and to accept the terms of the Labour Court recommendations.”

But one worker said he and his colleagues are prepared to continue the dispute for as long as it takes.

“Our families are supporting us, and they have decided not to shop in SuperValu or Centra stores while we are on strike,” he said.

One of the Europe’s largest retailers, Musgrave operates the Centra, SuperValu, Superquinn and Londis brands.

Based at Ballycurreen, on the Airport Road in Cork, it also operates brands in Britain and Spain.