Workers from the Clery’s outlets placed pickets on Clery’s department store O’Connell after liquidators stepped in and closes branches at Guiney’s Talbot Street, Blanchardstown, Sandyford/ Leopardstown & Naas town retail outlets. Worker turned up at the Naas retail outlet only to find liquidators putting locks on the premises. The liquidators asked the two workers to inform the rest of the workers not to bother turning up as there would be no access to the premises.

Workers in Blanchardstown were paid two week statuary redundancy both SIPTU & Mandate stated all other worker in the rest of the outlets received nothing. Both unions stated that the pension for workers who worked at Guiney’s Talbot Street, Blanchardstown, Sandyford/ Leopardstown & Naas town retail outlets would more than likely be wound up and the workers who work at Clery’s O’ Connell Street their pensions would be frozen.

Workers stated that there are many workers who have given long service to the company one woman had 28year’s service and received two week statuary redundancy the lower end of service was five to six years. One worker stated to SWP that workers supported and went with cutbacks in the last three years and promoted the stores to their customers and friends. The workers now feel they have been hoodwinked and let down by Guiney’s who owned all the outlets.

Workers are demanding to be redeployed into the Dublin Store Clery’s O’Connell Street these same workers have been left out in the cold with no pension, no wages, & no P45.

Meanwhile shareholders in retailer Clery’s have been told that Boston-based private equity group Gordon Brothers is spending €22 million to purchase the company’s debt from Bank of Ireland and for new investment in the O’Connell Street store. The new owners stated that they will not take on any liabilities from the groups other stores that went into liquidation.

SIPTU’s Graham Macken pointed out it was not industrial action at Clery’s it was a workers protest he went on to state that both unions do not agree with the compulsory or statuary redundancies that have taken place in the three stores. Graham Macken stated that there was 29 workers were losing their jobs and currently they were being paid out of a social fund. SIPTU & Mandate are entering into talks with the current company Gordan’s to see if they can find any resolution to the current impasse.

Eugene McDonagh
SWP