Staff action disrupts trading in Dunnes

December 1989

DUNNES Stores in Park Street is disrupted on two days as staff stage sit-ins.

Workers claim they are all threatened with dismissal for holding a meeting during normal hours. Management refuse to comment on the dispute.

The meeting is called by a shop steward after a part-timer is sacked and after management refuses to allow a full staff meeting.

At 3.25pm the entire staff leaves its posts. Bosses are left to operate the tills after being told of what is taking place.

At 5.15pm the meeting ends. The group is told by management they have to give an undertaking not to walk off the job again, and sign a statement to that effect before being let back on the floor.

It reads: ‘ No action of the same nature as was taken on 2/12/’89 would take place again at Dunnes Stores, Dundalk, and that no unofficial action will be taken which would cause disruption during normal trading hours in the future.’

Workers, after being informed that they will not be allowed back to work if they don’t sign, refuse to put their names to the document. They spend the remainder of the evening in the canteen.

On the following Monday when they report for work, management calls a meeting. Once more, an undertaking is sought that no such action as on the previous day take place again.

Staff are warned that otherwise they will have ‘no work to go to’.

Ultimately, the employees decide they have no choice in the matter and, at approximately 11.45am, agree to sign the statement.

When contacted for a comment, Dunnes Stores in Park Street says both the store manager and the area manager are on days off.

A repesentative from head office in Dublin is also unavailable for comment.