26/05/2016

Planned Strike Action At Tesco Stores Called Off

Planned strike action by Tesco workers across 70 stores in Ireland has been called off.

Industrial action was due to get underway at 7am today, 26 May. However, it is understood both sides have re-entered talks.

According to union Mandate, Tesco management are attempting to force changes to workers' conditions of employment including:

• 15-35% pay cuts

• The slashing of overtime

• Cuts to Sunday and unsociable hour's premiums from double pay to time and a half

• A reduction in the annual bonus

• Changes to rosters

Previously, Mandate Assistant General Secretary Gerry Light said: "Tesco management have failed to provide any evidence to justify making changes to workers' conditions of employment without agreement, and that's clearly why they haven't agreed to attend the Labour Court. Mandate and Tesco not only have an agreement to attend the Labour Court in such circumstances, we have a long history of that practice being utilised successfully in the past."

He added: "To say to a group of workers 'we're cutting your pay by up to 25 percent and we don't have to give you evidence or justify those cuts' is a shameful way to treat workers who have built the company to what it is over more than twenty years. For us, and our members, the situation is very clear. Tesco are attempting to increase already significant profits at the expense of their longest serving workers."

(MH/LM)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 March 2024
Working Families Urged To Explore Childcare Savings Ahead Of Holidays
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has called on working families who have yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare to find out how they could save money on their childcare costs in time for the school holidays.
13 March 2024
Translink Workers Reject Pay Offer
Translink NI workers have rejected a pay offer from the public transport company. Unite, GMB and SIPTU confirmed that their members has "decisively voted to reject as inadequate" a pay offer made by Translink management. Workers were offered a 5% pay increase and a non-consolidated one-off payment of £1,500 for the 2023-2024 financial year.
30 June 2009
Tesco To Extend Prices Cuts To Dublin Stores
The UK-based retail superstore Tesco has announced plans to slash prices at its Dublin stores over the next two weeks. The company has come under pressure to extend its price cuts throughout Ireland after announcing last month it would cut 12,000 prices at its outlets along the Irish border by an average of 22%.
12 April 2016
SF Accuse Tesco Of 'Behaving Irresponsibly And Illegally'
Management at supermarket chain Tesco have been accused of "behaving irresponsibly and illegally in ignoring the recommendations of a Labour Court ruling" by Sinn Féin leader Gerry Adams.
13 April 2016
SIPTU Tesco Workers Vote For Industrial Action
SIPTU retail staff in Tesco Ireland have overwhelmingly voted to take industrial action, up to and including strike action, in response to an attempt by the company to unilaterally enforce pay cuts and changes to work patterns.