Dublin South West Sinn Féin TD, Seán Crowe, has today met with Tesco workers and representatives from their trade union, Mandate.

Deputy Seán Crowe said:

“I had a very open and constructive meeting with these workers and union representatives today.

“Tesco, which is one of Ireland’s most profitable retailers, is attempting to cut the pay and conditions of employment for their long serving members of staff.

“Tesco is also failing to abide by the collective agreements that it has made with workers’ representatives and is refusing to attend the Labour Court for a hearing on the issues in dispute.

“It is attempting to undermine the pay and conditions of workers’ who have over 20 years’ experience working for the company. It has done this in other European countries and expects that Irish workers will somehow rollover and accept their unscrupulous attack on their income.

“Workers at 70 Tesco supermarkets across the State balloted in favour of industrial action and a planned strike on Monday 16 May, but this has now been suspended after management at Tesco agreed to attend talks with the Mandate Trade Union.

“There are currently two Tesco shops in Dublin South West, in Rathfarnham and Tallaght. If the talks are unsuccessful and the workers decide to set up pickets on these shops on another date I am encouraging everyone not to break the strike and to show solidarity and support for these workers.”

ENDS