Strike Notice Served On 4Home Stores

A trade union has served notice of industrial action on 4Home Superstores after talks with employers collapsed.

Mandate said the 24 workers involved in the dispute will now picket the company's stores in Co Cork after management revealed they were to lose their jobs.

The notice was served today following the collapse of talks between management and unions over the future of the Fermot and Mitchelstown stores.

Employees at the Mitchestown store staged a two-day sit-in earlier this month after being given just a few days' notice of the closure.

Mandate's Divisional Organiser, Lorraine O'Brien said: "The talks in the Labour Relations Agency (LRC) broke down yesterday as a result of the company refusing to budge on their offer of statutory redundancy for their staff members.

"The workers are obviously extremely disappointed and upset at the outcome and this has shown through with an overwhelming vote in favour of industrial action."

Earlier this month, staff engaged in a sit-in protest after they were told the store would close and they would receive only their statutory redundancy entitlements.

The employees ended the protest and returned to work after management agreed to enter talks on an improved redundancy deal and the possibility of saving some jobs.

However, Ms O'Brien said she was extremely frustrated with the attitude of the company towards the workers and the lack of progress made through negotiations.

"You have to question the company's use of the state mechanisms for resolving disputes when it appears they had no intention of increasing their offer or engaging in meaningful negotiations," she said.

(DW/BMcC)