THE result of a vote by staff at Limerick’s five Tesco stores to take industrial action in support of long-serving staff whose conditions of employment are being altered is expected within the next two weeks.
THE result of a vote by staff at Limerick’s five Tesco stores to take industrial action in support of long-serving staff whose conditions of employment are being altered is expected within the next two weeks.The workers have also voted on the issue of having a pay recommendation of the Labour Court implemented.
The supermarket chain employs more than 1,000 staff in Limerick at stores in Arthur’s Quay, Shannon Banks, Dooradoyle, Roxboro and Coonagh Cross.
The supermarket giant wants to get rid of a contract agreed 20 years ago that it claims is inflexible. Staff moving to a new contract would suffer a wage reduction of more than €2 an hour.
Tesco has asked staff to sign a new contract, negotiated in 2006, which would mean lower pay of €11.97 an hour, later working hours and rostering on Sundays.
They would also lose a guaranteed bonus, which would now be based on performance.
The supermarket chain has promised to compensate staff for the loss of earnings and will discuss this with them in the coming weeks.
Workers who are members of the Mandate trade union have already voted in favour of strike action and the union’s lead negotiator Brendan O’Hanlon has asked members of other unions to vote in favour os supporting their colleagues.
“This dispute could have major implications for all private sector workers,” he said.
Mandate said workers on the old contract, who earn €14.31 an hour, would suffer a cut of 16.5 per cent, or €2.35 an hour.
They said this represents a minimum cut in annual earnings of €6,591, as well as the loss of late night and early morning allowances, and the guaranteed share bonus scheme.
