The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
STAFF ON STRIKE OVER CONTRACTS
‘PEOPLE HAVE BUILT THEIR LIVES AND FAMILY ROUTINE AROUND THESE CONTRACTS’, SAYS TESCO EMPLOYEE
A NUMBER of Tesco employees formed a picket in front of the retail giant’s Manor West store in Tralee on Tuesday as part of an official strike over contract issues staged in a number of branches nationwide.
On a morning that should have been about work as usual, strikers marched slowly past the store, occasionally chatting to customers they would normally be speaking to over the cash registers.
“We would appreciate if you would support the picket,” strikers said as customers approached. Some shoppers stopped to chat and sign a petition in support before moving on. Others passed the picket without as much as glance in the workers’ direction.
“It’s frustrating that some people would pass a picket of industrial action but I suppose there’s also many that haven’t. It’s not a place we want to be, but we feel we have no choice,” said one worker.
The store was noticeably quieter and non-striking staff inside were busy stacking shelves as normal. But there was an awkwardness and little eye contact was made between those on the picket and the workers inside.
Staff are picketing because of Tesco Ireland’s decision in 2016 to change the contracts of approximately 1,000 staff members nationwide who were recruited prior to 1996. The workers say Tesco are trying to change contracts without their consent.
Speaking on the picket line on Tuesday morning, Tesco employee Yvonne Donnelly claimed there was no negotiation regarding changes to contracts. “Workers were just told their contracts would be changed. People have built their lives and family routines around these contracts. What’s a contract if they’re going to change the terms,” she said.
Matthew Healy, who has worked with Tesco for over two decades, said “they were changing our contracts, whether we liked it or not”.
He felt that “loyalty was suddenly no good to the company after being here 28 years”.
Willie O’Gorman, who started with Tesco in 2005 said the atmosphere had been uncomfortable following their union’s notification of industrial action.
“The atmosphere wasn’t great after the announcement,” Willie said.
He added that there was also considerable concern among staff about the potential impact of the strike on social welfare entitlements.
In response to this claim, a spokesperson from Tesco’s headquarters said a number of colleagues had asked the store manager what the impact of industrial action would be and the manager had directed them to the Department of Social Protection website for information.
Tesco also say a number of workers are worried about the action Mandate is taking.
Tesco workers rejected recommendations proposed by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and Labour Court, proposals, which were accepted by Tesco.
Mandate’s Divisional Organiser for the Mid-West, Karen Wall, said the recommendations were rejected on the basis that changes to contracts should not be “imposed” on workers.
“It’s absolutely disgraceful that they could put pressure on long-serving workers who are the face of Tesco Ireland. We want Tesco Ireland to stop and give a guarantee they will not push the changes ahead without the consent of the workers. There’s absolutely no justification for it,” said Ms Wall.
The Mandate official also claims a 2015 pay increase awarded by the Labour Court was withheld from pre-1996 workers for not signing up to the new contracts. However, Tesco refutes this assertion, stating that a proposed increase of 1.5 per cent wasn’t applicable to those on pre-1996 terms and conditions as they already receive a five per cent bonus.