13/06/2016

SIPTU Launch 'Time For Justice' Campaign On Anniversary Of Clerys Closure

Trade Union SIPTU has marked the one year anniversary of the closure of Clerys Department Store in Dublin by projecting the slogan 'Time For Justice' on the facade of the O'Connell Street building.

SIPTU Services Division Organiser, Ethel Buckley, said: "On the night of the 11 June, 2015, a process was set in motion that over the next 24 hours saw the historic store closed and over 400 workers losing their jobs without warning or the owners making any plans for the payment of their outstanding wages or redundancy entitlements.

"On this anniversary, politicians must be reminded of their commitment to legislate to ensure what happened to the Clerys workers can never happen again. This means ending the situation where unscrupulous business people can use loopholes in company law to create bogus insolvency and redundancy situations and thereby avoid their responsibilities to workers."

She added: "Following a campaign by the former Clerys workers and their union, SIPTU, to highlight what happened the previous government commissioned the Duffy-Cahill Report.

"This recommends changes to the law to ensure there are severe penalties for employers who do not adhere to the minimum 30-day consultation period before implementing collective redundancies.

"It also calls for the introduction of a mechanism for recovering assets transferred out of a business in certain circumstances. The new government must legislate without delay to ensure such protections are provided for workers."

(MH/JP)

Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

19 April 2024
Belfast Castle To Mark 90th Anniversary Of Gift To The City
The summer will mark 90 years since Belfast Castle was gifted to the citizens of the city, an anniversary that will be marked with a series of events and activities, as well as the reopening of the Castle's Cellar Restaurant. The anniversary will offer locals and visitors the opportunity to delve into the iconic estate's history and heritage.
18 January 2016
Govt Announce Review Of Company And Employment Law
The government has announced a review of company and employment law, which aims to provide the basis for legislative change to prevent a repeat of the situation surrounding the closure of Clerys department store. SIPTU activists and former Clerys workers have described the announcement as a "positive development".
05 January 2016
Labour Renews Call For Fair Deal For Former Clerys Workers
Labour has reiterated its call for the owners of Clerys to meet with their former workers to negotiate a fair redundancy package. TD Joe Costello made the call following an RTÉ documentary on the closure of the Dublin department store in June last year.
12 September 2016
FF Slams HMV For Leaving Workers Without Redundancy Pay
Fianna Fáil has slammed HMV for leaving workers without redundancy pay as the company enters liquidation. Four stores, three in Dublin and one in Limerick, were closed on Saturday, 10 September.
17 June 2015
Sinn Féin Accuse Fine Gael And Labour Of Hypocrisy Over Clerys Workers
Fine Gael and Labour have been accused of hypocrisy on their position on the situation faced by former Clerys workers. Sinn Féin said that Taoiseach Enda Kenny, Fine Gael and the Labour Party have expressed sympathy for workers, while voting down legislation which would have alleviated their plight.