Debenhams liquidators condemn worker blockades over job losses
DEBENHAMS liquidators have said blockades by workers who lost their jobs during the Covid-19 crisis are “unfair”.
They were reacting after staff blocked trucks that were being used to remove stock at the Patrick Street store in Cork earlier this week.
Liquidators Kieran Wallace and Andrew O’Leary of KPMG said they recognised the right to peaceful protest but are disappointed at protest action that involved the removal of stock by concession holders.
However, Taoiseach Micheál Martin said Debenhams had treated the workers in a “shabby way”.
Protests have taken place since the high street chain announced plans to close its 11 Irish stores with the loss of over 1,300 jobs in April. Former employees have also picketed stores in Dublin and Limerick.
Mandate union members have vowed to halt stock removal until they get a better redundancy package.
They are set to get the statutory entitlement of two weeks pay per year of service. But union officials say a deal negotiated previously was worth two extra weeks’ service on top of this.
The liquidators said they were appointed to manage the liquidation in the best interests of creditors and staff.
“The liquidators believe it is unfair to prevent concession holders, who are simply seeking the return of stock which is owned by them and has no relevance to the liquidation of the Debenhams business in Ireland, from accessing the stores,” said their statement.
“This action by protesters creates a difficulty for the owners of the concession businesses and their employees.”
Mandate general secretary John Douglas said it is very unfair making 1,500 people redundant in the middle of a pandemic. When asked his view of the blockades, he said the workers are in a “limbo situation” with “nothing to lose”.
“I presume the purpose of any picket is to explain to the public that an official dispute is on, and that’s what they’re going to do. As soon as we can get an airline to Oxford Street, we will be over there.”
Another protest is planned at a store in Derry tomorrow.