Speaking in response to the news that Dunne’s Stores have agreed to give its staff a three percent pay increase, Dublin South West TD Seán Crowe, has said that while he welcomed the announcement, the company needs to realize that this is the 21st Century and recognize their employees union Mandate.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“I welcome that Dunnes Stores have agreed to a 3% pay rise for their workers but they need to follow through with recognition of their workers Trade Union, Mandate. This is the 21st Century and senior Dunne’s management need to wake up to this reality.

“Dunne’s and other supermarket multiples also need to eradicate the awful practice of zero hour contracts that trap workers into poverty wages.

“Vulnerable low paid workers need to have some  security around the number of hours they work or any proposed  pay rise while significant, will have no long term benefit for its employees.

“If an employer reduces hours then the pay increase becomes virtually meaningless.  A pay increase is always welcome, but it must be underpinned by contracts that give the employee a degree of certainty around working hours.

“A cornerstone of decent work should be job security and this has to include a mechanism where employees are guaranteed decent and secure earning from week to week.

“Dunne’s as an employer seems to see nothing wrong with paying its staff minimum rates of pay and then thinks it’s acceptable to have over 80% of its staff on ‘flexible contracts.

“This race to the bottom in terms of pay, insecurity of hours and the failure of companies like Dunne’s to recognise and engage with unions is not acceptable in any progressive civilized society.

“Exploiting workers benefits no one. It is bad for business, bad for society and bad for the economy.

“Dunne’s Stores needs to engage with Mandate and work towards finding a long term resolution to its antiquated attitude to their employees and their working conditions.”

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