SIPTU has called a rally in support of the Clerys workers outside the department store, O’Connell Street, Dublin, tomorrow (Tuesday, 16th June) between 12.00 p.m. and 2.00 p.m. to highlight the demand that the new owners meet with staff. SIPTU Sector Organiser, Teresa Hannick, said: “The way these workers have been treated by Natrium, the consortium which took over Clerys on Friday and then liquated the company, is completely unacceptable.“The workers are demanding that representatives of Natrium meet with them and their union representatives immediately to discuss the situation. These workers have hundreds of years of service between them and should be treated with the due respect they deserve.”SIPTU representatives will meet with representatives of KPMG, the court appointed liquidators of the company, in Liberty Hall, Dublin, tomorrow morning prior to the rally.Later, tomorrow evening a delegation of workers and union representatives will meet with the Minister of State for Business and Employment, Ged Nash. This meeting will focus on ensuring that the workers concerns about how they have been treated by the new owners of the company are adequately addressed.On Wednesday (17th June), officials from the Department of Social Protection will meet with the workers in Liberty Hall to discuss their entitlements and ensure these are provided in a timely manner.SIPTU Organiser, Robert Purfield, said: “The treatment of these honest hard working people marks a new low in the annals of Irish business practice. Unfortunately, it would seem to be part of a pattern of behaviour by some businesses of showing a complete disregard for loyal workforces, as was the case last year in Dublin with the Greyhound Recycling dispute and in 2012 with the Vita Cortex dispute in Cork.“It is a situation which will not be allowed to continue. The Clerys workers are calling on the public to maintain the strong support they have received so far in order to ensure that business owners understand that the rights of workers must be respected.”
SIPTU calls rally in support of Clerys workers at department store tomorrow
