Online petition in support of Clerys staff

Siptu said an online petition in support of former Clerys workers, launched on its website yesterday, was in response to “overwhelming public demand.”

The petition went live around the same time workers from the iconic department store,which closed a week ago, protested outside the premises of the new owners in Dublin.

Siptu said the online petition was for people in Ireland and abroad who wanted to show they supported the workers’ demand the store’s new owners meet them.

The trade union launched a written petition last Tuesday and, within 24 hours, it had received over 5,000 signatures.

READ MORE: Clerys staff treatment ‘appalling’ .

Natrium, the consortium that took over Clerys last week, issued a statement yesterday outlining its plans for the the O’Connell St building. A spokesperson for Natrium said the building could be transformed into a “major new mixed destination” in the capital, creating large numbers of sustainable jobs in the process.

“There is a strong demand from international retailers and other commercial users for unique and best in class spaces within the city centre and that is not currently being met,” he said.

Natrium said it recognised the Clerys building had been a very important institution for generations of Dubliners, particularly those who had worked there over the years.

“We are conscious that the necessary closure of the department store has had a very serious impact on the former employees,” it stated.

However, Siptu was disappointed the statement was the first communication from Natrium in a week and only had one sentence about the 430 Clerys workers.

Siptu is still demanding that Natrium meet with the workers as a matter of urgency.

“Their statement is no consolation whatsoever to the workers that have been shabbily treated,” a Siptu spokesman said yesterday.