Ex-Debenhams workers repeat calls for Taoiseach s intervention as protest reaches 300 days
Today marks 300 days since 1,000 Debenhams workers in Ireland were informed their company had entered liquidation
Today marks 300 days since 1,000 Debenhams workers in Ireland were informed their company had entered liquidation.
Wed, 03 Feb, 2021 - 07:35
Caitlín Griffin
Former Debenhams workers are calling on the Taoiseach, Micheál Martin, to make a €3m training fund established for the workers available as a cash payment.
Today marks 300 days since 1,000 Debenhams workers in Ireland were informed their company had entered liquidation.
The ex-staff has said they have contacted the Taoiseach’s office twice last month but claim they have not yet received a response.
Former Debenhams staff in Cork say they will not be ignored It s 300 days since the retailer announced the closure of 11 stores in the Republic including two stores in the city.
Ex-staff have been blockading the stores since April last year and say they will step down if a proposed €3 million training fund is converted into cash.
A sign on the front of the former Patrick Street store accuses the Taoiseach of letting the striking staff down badly.
Speaking to RedFM News, shop steward Valerie Conlon says Micheál Martin is continually ignoring emails from trade union officials and staff: He keeps saying it s [not converting training fund to cash] over precedent, but precedent has already been set when they done it for the banks. Number one, they bailed out the banks, but they also helped to set up a fund for the staff of the banks at the time. And he s saying now that he can t do that for us. So is it okay to do it for bankers.. but for the people in reta
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Former Debenhams Staff Back On The Picket Line After Voting Against Deal To End Long Running Dispute The ex-staff had been blockading their former work places on Patrick Street and at Mahon Shopping Centre in a bid to force Debenhams to honour a 2016 agreement.
It s been 280 days since around 330 staff in Cork lost their jobs when the retailer closed 11 Irish stores.
91% of employees who are members of the Mandate Trade Union voted to reject the offer of a €3 million training fund.
Speaking to RedFM News, Valerie Conlon from the Patrick Street store says they will end their action if the fund is converted to cash:
Limerick s Live 95
Search By Live95 News Team Live95 picture library Ex-Debenhams workers are shocked and disappointed at the government s offer of a 3 million euro package for training and upskilling.
The Chair of the Labour Court, Kevin Foley, announced the proposal following lengthy engagement with workers, KPMG and government.
Around 1,000 staff lost their jobs last year after the company went into liquidation and yesterday marked the 250th day of their dispute for better redundancy packages.
More than 100 Limerick workerd were affected.
Former shop steward at the Patrick Street store in Cork, Valerie Conlon, says the offer from government isn t acceptable.