M&S staff to strike as ESB action looms near

More than 2,000 staff at Marks & Spencer are due to start a series of one-day stoppages in the run-up to Christmas, beginning next Saturday.

Workers at the retailer’s 17 stores in the Republic have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a dispute over a number of proposed changes to terms and conditions.

Staff — most of whom are members of the Mandate trade union — have been particularly angered by the closure of the workers’ pension scheme without agreement, and 94% voted in favour of strike action following the decision by M&S management to close its defined benefit pension scheme for employees on Oct 31.