In a dispute over the closure of a pension scheme at the retailer more than 2,000 workers went on strike having voted almost unanimously to take industrial action. According to the trade unions, management has attempted to open two of the smaller outlets in Athlone and Navan using temporary, seasonal staff. The company’s defined benefit pension scheme was shut down by the company on October 31st with two weeks’ notice to staff. Other workers concerns included plans to drop the Sunday pay rate, the elimination of a Christmas bonus and a reduction in numbers of section managers. After an emergency hearing at the labour court the labour court’s recommendation was accepted by the unions and the actions were suspended.
English: http://www.siptu.ie/media/pressreleases2013/featurednews ...
http://www.mandate.ie/News/Mandate/997/marks-spencer-workers-vote-overwhelmingly ...
http://www.rte.ie/news/2013/1211/492318-marks-and-spencer-strike/
http://www.irishtimes.com/business/sectors/retail-and-services/m-s-stores-close ...
For more information, please contact the editor Jan Cremers, Amsterdam Institute for Advanced Labour Studies (AIAS) cbn-aias@uva.nl or the communications officer at the ETUI, Mariya Nikolova mnikolova@etui.org. For previous issues of the Collective bargaining newsletter please visit http://www.etui.org/E-Newsletters/Collective-bargaining-newsletter. You may find further information on the ETUI at www.etui.org, and on the AIAS at www.uva-aias.net.