Lloyds strike hits Wicklow, Baltinglass and Bray shops
STAFF members at Lloyds Pharmacy in Bray, Shankill, Wicklow and Baltinglass took part in a work stoppage last Friday morning to get better pay and conditions.
Nationally more than 200 workers across 34 out of the group’s 88 stores took part in the two-hour stoppage to get a pay rise, sick leave scheme and better terms and conditions.
Their union, Mandate, apologised for the inconvenience to the public but insisted that any blame for the stoppage lies with Lloyds.
It accused the company of refusing to hold talks with the union despite a Labour Court recommendation that it do so. Mandate has demanded a pay rise, pay scales that rise in increments, and the roll out of a sick pay scheme.
It also wants better holiday entitlements and zero hour contracts to be axed.
However, Lloyds denies that there are zero-hour contracts in place and said it has already brokered a pay deal with a committee representing most of its staff.
In a statement, the union said just 34 of the 88 stores were selected to cause as little inconvenience to people as possible. In the Wicklow area, stores affected were Bray, Shankill, Wicklow and Baltinglass, with the Greystones store remaining open during the stoppage.
In a statement, the pharmaceutical chain said measures had been put in place to minimise the impact of the industrial action.
The chain said it has agreed a pay rise backdated to last April, to eliminate payment of the minimum wage and roll out a new sick pay scheme with a Colleague Representative Committee.
It said the committee represents most of its workers and they voted in favour of the deal.
Its statement said: ‘The next phase of CRC engagement is under way. We have indicated our commitment to speedily delivering further affordable improvements, including on pay scales.
‘The team has been informed that we will be bringing proposals, including specifics on pay scales, to the scheduled upcoming meeting.
‘Contrary to deliberately misleading information, we do not have, and never had, zero-hour contracts. All part-time colleagues receive six weeks advance notice of working hours and work on average 25 hours per week. This does not amount to a zero-hour contract and is aligned to the requirements of our colleagues and the needs of our business.’
Mandate maintains that the company’s offer is inadequate and that the Colleague Representative Committee is effectively controlled by management.