New Look staff voice fears as they claim management will shut store next month
NEW Look’s flagship Belfast store will close its doors in four weeks’ time with “minimal redundancy packages” and redeployment offered to its 60 employees, some workers have claimed.
It comes after Primark confirmed that it was involved in commercial discussions in relation to Fountain House where fashion retailer New Look has been a tenant for 11 years.
And Land Registry documents seen by the Belfast Telegraph show Primark, whose main Belfast store was destroyed by a fire in August, entered into a contract to purchase the building on Donegall Place on September 20.
However staff at New Look say they are angry their future job security remains unclear, even after a meeting with the company’s senior management.
In a letter to a Belfast politician, members of staff at the New Look store said the company only commented on speculation of a closure one week after news reports.
And they said there “were no guarantees by New Look” of redeployment, adding that information being shared with them was “conflicting”, and that redundancy packages were “minimal”.
They added there was “talk from management that New Look are looking for a new building” but “staff don’t feel that a new building is possibly going to happen this side of Christmas”.
New Look, which has 26 Northern Ireland stores — six of which are in Belfast — has refused to comment on its plans.
People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said the developments were concerning.
Mr Carroll (right) said: “There are staff with families who have been there 10 or 11 years.
“New Look needs to come out and let staff know if they are losing their jobs or not.”
He added: “People are really frightened of potential repercussions if they talk, and no-one should be in an environment where their job or conditions are threatened.”
The letter said staff morale was at an all-time low, adding: “This is a horrendous time for everyone, so much so that certain staff members’ family life and mental health has been affected so badly that they have had to seek medical/ doctors’ advice and support.”
The store is expected to close to the public on Novem- ber 3 and staff say they will remain working at the unit for four days to clear out the building by November
7.
They described it as “the final nail in the coffin” in relations with management. Redeployment opportunities for the Belfast staff could potentially include roles at New Look’s CastleCourt, Yorkgate, Boucher Road, Forestside, Park Centre and Connswater stores in Belfast.
Mr Carroll advised staff to join a union, adding: “People are strong when they stand together.”
Fountain House’s current owners are British Overseas Bank Nominees Limited and WCTC Nominees Limited, who are understood to have bought the building for £13m in 2013.
New Look announced a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) in March which included the closure of 60 out of its 593 outlets.
However, none of its Northern Ireland stores were among that figure.
Its directors are thought to have entered into legally binding agreements with creditors and landlords, including the current Fountain House owners, to avoid going into administration or liquidation.
The retailer explained that its CVA was approved by the “overwhelming majority” of its landlords.