Staff at M&S stores due for closure ballot for strike action

Staff at four Marks & Spencer stores are being balloted for strike action in a dispute that is threatening to escalate into a nationwide action.

The 180 staff at the British retailer’s Dun Laoghaire, Mullingar, Naas, and Tallaght stores are being balloted after talks at the Labour Relations Commission failed. Mandate trade union, which represents the workers, said the company has refused to discuss alternatives to compulsory redundancy notices issued to its members in those stores last week.

Mandate assistant general secretary Gerry Light said the failure by management to discuss alternatives had left the union with no option but to initiate the ballot.

“Management have rejected outright the possibility of redeployment through a voluntary redundancy scheme and have even refused to release details of the redundancy package that would be provided to our members, who are still adjusting to the devastating news that they will be losing their jobs,” said Mr Light.

“We are prepared to sit down with the company to discuss all of the pertinent issues at this moment in time, but we need a commitment from management that they will abide by their statutory obligations and take the threat of compulsory redundancy off the table.”

The result of the ballot is expected on Monday.

Mandate said it has told the company the situation could escalate around the country. Management has sought reductions in terms and conditions for all staff here and Mandate said a lack of positive engagement could raise “the potential for escalation”.

“The company’s behaviour on this issue doesn’t bode well for our forthcoming negations on other matters, and all of our Marks & Spencer members throughout Ireland need to be conscious of this,” said Mr Light.

Meanwhile, 86 staff at Dublin department store Clerys are to be laid off on a temporary basis while the store continues to recover from damage sustained during a storm on Jul 25.

The company said Clerys will reopen on a stronger than ever platform.

“However, due to the extent of damage, Clerys will not be fully operational in the short-term and, as a result, it is with regret that 86 employees were informed that they are to be laid off on a temporary, short-term basis for at least four weeks.

“Affected employees, primarily in sales and back-of-house functions will remain Clerys’ employees during the temporary lay-off period.

“Some staff and management remain fully employed by the department store. Their sole focus is on relaunching Clerys as soon as is practicably possible.”