Clerys staff plan pickets until they get meeting

Staff at Clerys say they will protest outside the shop every day until the liquidators agree to meet with them.

The iconic Dublin department store shut without warning on Friday, with 130 staff and over 300 concession workers now facing uncertain futures.

Workers said they were not given adequate warning and claim they are already owed back-pay.

Clerys has been sold to property developers Natrium Ltd for an undisclosed sum, while the High Court has appointed KPMG liquidators to the company operating the shop.

Teresa Hannick is from SIPTU - the trade union representing many of Clerys staff - she says those with the longest service will be hardest hit:

"We are planning a series of protest marches or actions over the coming few days," she said.

"We're talking about people who have many, many years' service. We have one member who has 43 years service, expected to retire in two years' time … he got 30 minutes' notice."