HMV workers set to continue sit-in until they receive all entitlements

Staff in two branches of HMV in Limerick have said they will continue their sit-in until they are paid what they are owed.

Staff at outlets at the Crescent Shopping Centre and in Cruises St, which employ 26 staff between them, have said they have not been paid in almost a month.

Staff member at the Cruises St shop, Michelle Henniger, 27, and her partner Gary Healy, 35, between them have 10 years’ service.

Ms Henniger said the couple’s most pressing need was trying to pay rent of €650 without having received any wages since Dec 21. She said she was owed holidays.

Chris Keane, manager of HMV at Crescent Shopping Centre, where 12 staff were employed since 2009, said seven of the staff had children. All are determined get their wages. Stephen Bond, 31, a married father of one, whose second baby is due in two months, is worried he may lose his home.

David Carson, spokesman for receiver Deloitte said they are “examining options to facilitate payment as soon as possible.”

Advisory services manager with the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA), Aidan Clifford, said the appointment of an administrator in Britain and a receiver in Ireland to the group has not invalidated any HMV Ireland gift vouchers claiming they are still legal debts of HMV.

ACCA believes that it was also wrong of HMV Ireland to refuse to accept vouchers as payment after the administrator was appointed in Britain but prior to the receiver being appointed here and called on the Director of Corporate Enforcement to investigate this.