From Irish Water to facing Tesco strikes
THE woman who is facing down hundreds of striking Tesco workers left Irish Water for her ‘dream job’ doing public relations for Tesco three years ago.
Christine Heffernan, corporate affairs director of Tesco Ireland, is trying to persuade check-out workers to accept reduced pay terms and longer shifts with more weekend work as part of new, flexible rosters.
This weekend she and fellow managers have agreed to talk with shop-workers’ union Mandate in a move to head off the bitter strike spreading to 22 more outlets.
After three years working for Irish Water and its parent company Bord Gáis, she is used to taking on unpopular issues and challenging angry employees and customers.
Ms Heffernan studied at Trinity College before working at the European Parliament.
She then spent time working for the British government’s Treasury Department in London, and with Prudential insurance.
She is the public face of Tesco Ireland, appearing on TV this week to tell workers to return to their checkouts and sign up for new work conditions.
She also worked with Vodafone Ireland as a corporate communications manager and as head of corporate affairs.
Ms Heffernan later joined Irish Water/Bord Gáis where she stayed for two years as PR chief a height of the bitter watercharges campaign.
One of her main jobs was as company spokeswoman, announcing the roll-out of 27,000 water meter installations a month in 2014.
More than three years ago she joined Tesco as the supermarket’s Irish PR director.
In a ‘Business Wisdom’ briefing for Merc recruitment business monthly, Ms Heffernan said she was most proud of landing the Tesco publicity role. She described it as her dream job. ‘I love retail and enjoy how diverse and dynamic Tesco is. Every day is different and combines the things that interest me – retail, media, people.’
The challenge of the expanding Tesco strikes, which began at seven shops last Tuesday, are unlikely to faze her.
She said in the same Merc article: ‘In a corporate affairs role, challenging situations, even crises, do arise but the most important thing is to remain calm and think of the longerterm objective. I also try to understand the motivations of others and the pressure on them.’