The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Tralee Cllrs support striking Dunnes workers
June 1995
TRALEE Town Councillors this week backed the striking Dunnes Stores workers in their fight for better conditions which has resulted in the closure of two Dunnes outlets in Tralee.
Council members have visited workers on the picket-line and on the proposal of Cllr Donal Tobin, a SIPTU union official, the council is writing a letter of support for the strikers.
Cllr Bily Leen said councillors should spend time on the picket line and this has been happening all week.
The striking Dunnes Stores workers in Kerry forced the closure of ’ the company’s three outlets in the county this week, as Kerry shoppers switched over half a million pounds in purchases away from the company in a show of support for the 300 plus striking Dunnes workers in Kerry.
Workers on the picket line in Tralee and Killarney have been buoyed by the level of support they are getting from the general public.
Meanwhile other supermarkets in Kerry are enjoying a bonanza.
Dunnes Stores has an estimated 35pc of the retail market in Tralee and the closure of their North Circular Road shop is resulting in a 25pc plus increase on sales in other supermarkets in the town.
A spokesman for Garvey’s chain of SuperValue stores told The Kerryman that their sales are understandably up, but could not put a figure on the increase.
The manager of Quinnworth’s Killarney outlet, PJ McGee, said the shop had gained considerable sales.
“We are well up, way up. It is terribly busy, we are well over 50pc up on sales at present,” he said on Wednesday.
In Listowel L&N manager, Stephen Walsh said that it would be the weekend before any impact was felt from the repercussions of the strike.
Industry sources suggest that Dunnes Stores have a turnover of about £35m in Kerry each year and that, on average, stores in the immediate-catchment area of Dunnes Stores outlets in Tralee and Killarney are experiencing a 25pc increase in trade.
“If the strike continues into the weekend and longer, then Dunnes could lose as much as 15 per cent of their trade in the short to medium term as shoppers get used to other outlets,” an industry, source claimed.
Mr Kelly of Mandate said that of their 125 members in, Killarney just one passed the picket and in Tralee just two of their 185 members employe by Dunnes passed the picket.