[ad_1]
The liquidators of Debenhams’ Irish operation, KPMG, have apologized to former workers for failing to make a commitment to notify their Union Mandate at least two hours in advance if they planned to withdraw inventory from any of the 11 stores across the country.
Shortly after 5 am, images were taken of vans arriving at the Debenhams Henry Street store and unloading packaging materials, a move that had not been notified to Mandate in accordance with KPMG’s warranty.
KPMG has issued a statement saying that “due to a logistical error, the packaging materials were delivered to the Henry Street store this morning without prior notice.”
The statement continues: “None of the members of the Liquidators team was present at that time. This work had been booked two days before and should have been canceled in accordance with the commitment to give notice to the Mandate, but it was done by mistake.
“The Liquidators have apologized and assured Mandate that there will be no repetition.”
Read more:
Debenhams liquidators received a court order in High Court
Since the Debenhams Irish operation went into liquidation in April, former workers have held pickets at all 11 stores to prevent stocks from being withdrawn.
They argue that the proceeds of the actions should be hedged to pay staff the enhanced severance payments provided for in a 2016 collective agreement.
On Tuesday, liquidators Andrew O’Leary and Kieran Wallace obtained an injunction from the Supreme Court preventing illegal actions and any interference with their efforts to de-stock the 11 former stores.
Yesterday, the liquidators confirmed to Mandate that in the next few days they would be putting in place the logistics for packing and stock removal.
However, they gave the following guarantee to the union: “In the context of having this Court Order, the Liquidators are willing to offer the commitment to notify the Mandate at least two hours in advance of the schedules, and to which stores they intend to enter the Liquidators either for the delivery of packaging materials or the withdrawal of stocks.
“As a result, this should relieve employees of the need to protest 24 hours a day, although we appreciate that this is entirely up to the employees.
“For logistical reasons, we do not plan any entrance to the store for the rest of this week.”
Mandate general secretary Gerry Light said that as soon as they were informed of the incident this morning, the union had written to KPMG asking for an explanation and had received an apology blaming a logistical error.
He said the members were furious, “and rightly so.”
“For KPMG to agree to notify the union before action is taken, and then a team of men in dark clothing arrive at the store in the middle of the night to try to intimidate women at an official picket and take stock is a disgrace, “he said.
It asked the government to intervene, saying that it was the only group that could resolve the dispute amicably.
“They have the means and the ability to change the law and allow all workers to fall back on their collectively agreed redundancy packages, including former Debenhams workers. Much of the responsibility for what happened last night and what happens in the future will be at the government’s door if they don’t act now ”.
[ad_2]