‘We will sit in for as long as necessary’

Staff at a third HMV outlet have begun a sit-in to secure thousands in unpaid wages.

About seven staff at HMV’s Cork store followed the example of their Limerick counterparts and entered the locked branch on St Patrick’s Street yesterday, after temporary staff hired to work over Christmas did not receive their pay.

Barry Power, the store’s assistant manager, said there are now fears the full-time staff, who are due to be paid for December work on Jan 25, will not be paid either.

“We can’t apply for the dole and we can’t get paid from HMV because the company no longer exists. And we are caught in the middle.

“This is a peaceful protest and we will do this for as long as necessary.”

HMV’s British operation entered an administration process earlier this week.

HMV Ireland was then placed in receivership, and 16 shops were subsequently shut, putting 300 jobs at risk.

The staff at the Cork shop were told to shut the doors on Wednesday morning, before being briefed by Deloitte representatives that evening.

Mr Power said they were given certain assurances that all outstanding wages would be paid. However, he said alarm bells sounded yesterday when the part-time Christmas staff didn’t get their money.

“There are people here with kids and mortgages. We have concerns for them,” he said.

The staff brought sleeping bags in to the shop as more staff members joined the sit-in last night.

Meanwhile, one of the HMV staff sitting in at one of the company’s two closed shops in Limerick said she was owed over €3,000 in wages and holiday pay.

Emer Walsh, who had worked for seven years at HMV’s Cruises St branch, said staff felt betrayed by the manner in which the firm had behaved towards them.

However, she said they were determined to fight on to get a just outcome.

Ms Walsh, who lives in Cahedavin said: “There is great camaraderie among the workers.

“We are friends, not just colleagues. I was last paid on Dec 21 and we worked very long hours over the very busy Christmas period and I estimate I am owed over €3,000, which is a lot money.”

Limerick band Leading Armies joined the protest at Cruises St and are among a number of bands who have pledged to entertain staff and those supporting them.

Band member Mike Hogan said: “Our drummer Noel Mooney worked at the Crescent Shopping Centre branch. We are here to show our solidarity with the workers. A number of Limerick bands will be here over the weekend.”