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A Cork staff member has described a possible negotiated termination agreement in the Debenhams dispute as “bad news.”
Valerie Conlon, Mandate shop steward at the Debenhams store on Patrick’s Street, said they were informed of the potential deal in a zoom call with Mandate and SIPTU on Thursday.
He explained that the staff is entitled to a legal dismissal, which is the payment of two weeks for each year of service, plus the payment of an additional week. That totals between 10 and 11 million euros for all staff in the 11 stores across the country, he explained.
According to Ms Conlon, this deal has offered just an additional € 1 million to workers among the 11 stores, which she said is far less than what they were looking for.
“We will get the legal dismissal anyway, but then instead of the two additional weeks (per year of service) that we are looking for, which would be another 10 or 11 million euros, they have offered us 1 million euros,” said the Mrs. Conlon told The Echo.
She said the staff would not accept that amount, adding that Mandate was “confident” in breaking the deal’s history “without a vote.”
All union staff will now receive a detailed document on the proposed agreement, which will be followed by a vote-by-mail of the members to see if they accept what is on the table.
In a statement, the Mandate Trade Union said they had negotiated “a possible resolution” to the ongoing dispute over the firing of Debenhams staff.
That includes “a financial settlement offer, as well as guaranteed employment for several Debenhams staff members, as a new tenant takes control of at least three stores.”
Gerry Light, Secretary General of the Mandate, said: “This agreement was only possible thanks to the resilience and determination of our Debenhams members who have been picketing through hail, rain and even storms for the past four months.
“They have lobbied, protested and raised awareness about their plight through the media. They are a credit to their union and to themselves. ”
However, it seems unlikely that Debenhams staff will vote in favor of the proposals.
Sunday marks 150 days of the Debenhams workers’ fight for a fair dismissal, and demonstrations will take place in both Cork stores, on Patrick’s Street and at the Mahon Point shopping center, to coincide with other planned demonstrations across the country.
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