Argos strike - English scabs shipped in
kbranno, indymedia.ie feature | 02.12.2007 12:17 | Workers' Movements
Argos workers in Ireland are on strike. An agreement with the union since 2000 has broken down and talks faltered. So in the run up to Christmas workers have left their tills. The management have taken to moving workers from England and Wales to help break the strike.
Start of Interview with Mandate Shop Stewrd
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Interview with Mandate Shop Steward
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Picket line
With only three shopping weeks left in the Christmas shopping season, the Pavilions shopping centre in Swords, Co. Dublin experienced its first bout of ‘Workers Action’ today with Argos employees, who are members of the Trade Union Mandate, abandoning their tills and making for the picket line.
Talks, which lasted until late last night, were held between Mandate and Argos management at the National Implementation Body, ended without agreement being reached resulting in today’s action.
The Retail giant which has 680 stores dotted around the UK and Ireland, last year announced profits which exceeded €8.1 billion, profits are also up 50% for the first half of this year. Yet they are unwilling to increase their workers wages by 10%. With most workers earning €9.00 an hour a 10% increase would raise their hourly rates to €9.90.
In 2000, Argos and Mandate agreed to negotiate wage increases on a yearly basis without being subject to social partnership.
With tensions between workers and management simmering for the last few weeks as the threat of a strike grew, pressure has been put on seasonal workers and weekend employees of Argos not to join the Union for fear of loosing their jobs. The shop steward of the Swords branch of Mandate, Shane McNamara, told me how workers were even brought into management offices and had it outlined to them exactly what joining with Mandate, would mean to their future in Argos.
Another feature of today’s strike was the use of “scab” labor, with Argos shipping in Welsh and English stooges to undercut their fellow workers strike for fair pay on this side of the Irish Sea.
If Argos refuses to meet the Unions demands it looks likely that the 31 branches which struck today will be taking to the picket lines a few more times between now and the cutting of the Turkey.
http://www.mandate.ie/
Related Link: http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74150
Talks, which lasted until late last night, were held between Mandate and Argos management at the National Implementation Body, ended without agreement being reached resulting in today’s action.
The Retail giant which has 680 stores dotted around the UK and Ireland, last year announced profits which exceeded €8.1 billion, profits are also up 50% for the first half of this year. Yet they are unwilling to increase their workers wages by 10%. With most workers earning €9.00 an hour a 10% increase would raise their hourly rates to €9.90.
In 2000, Argos and Mandate agreed to negotiate wage increases on a yearly basis without being subject to social partnership.
With tensions between workers and management simmering for the last few weeks as the threat of a strike grew, pressure has been put on seasonal workers and weekend employees of Argos not to join the Union for fear of loosing their jobs. The shop steward of the Swords branch of Mandate, Shane McNamara, told me how workers were even brought into management offices and had it outlined to them exactly what joining with Mandate, would mean to their future in Argos.
Another feature of today’s strike was the use of “scab” labor, with Argos shipping in Welsh and English stooges to undercut their fellow workers strike for fair pay on this side of the Irish Sea.
If Argos refuses to meet the Unions demands it looks likely that the 31 branches which struck today will be taking to the picket lines a few more times between now and the cutting of the Turkey.
http://www.mandate.ie/ Related Link:
http://www.indymedia.ie/article/74150
kbranno, indymedia.ie feature
Homepage:
http://indymedia.ie/
Comments
Hide the following 3 comments
More info on temp agencies etc please
02.12.2007 22:32
Johnny
solution
03.12.2007 15:30
everyones a winner as prices are still low
qwerty
Support from Argos Strikers from UK
11.12.2007 12:58
Guardian Letters Page
When workers in Argos stores in Ireland held a one-day strike on December 1, the management flew over staff from UK stores. From flying pickets in the 1980s to flying strike-breakers now. Argos have internationalised the dispute, so until it is resolved, UK consumers should exercise a more traditional form of international solidarity when buying their Christmas presents: when you shop for it, don't Argos it!
Seán O'Donovan
London
I have also set up a Facebook page at
Join us !!
As you will know the Argos workers in the Republic of Ireland are holding another one-day stoppage on Tuesday 18th December and it is very important that the Argos Management do not repeat their deplorable action of flying in workers from the UK to undercut legitimate and legal strike action.
Express your concern, the determination of you (and you family and friends) not to shop at Argos until this dispute is resolved and ask for confirmation that they won't fly in strike-breakers on 18th December.
Email or write to the Chief Executive Terry Duddy at
or write to Argos Ltd, 489-499 Avebury Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 2NW
This is Retail Week 6th December 2007
The involvement of "strike breaking" British workers may alienate local shoppers. An online poll by broadcaster RTE found that 59 per cent said they would not shop in Argos.
Mandate assistant general-secretary Linda Tanham said: "The company brought their UK staff in at great expense. They flew them in, accommodated them for two nights, paid them for their work and then flew them home. We've also heard reports that Argos paid the UK staff double for working last Saturday."
Panmure Gordon analyst Christian Koefoed-Nielsen thought the dispute represented "a little local difficulty", but warned: "It's not good news, especially if it goes on. It might give other people ideas."
The next strike is planned for Tuesday December 18, but the Trade Union Mandate warned it could hit "any hours after that, at any part of the day and at any location or combination of locations."
Sean O'Donovan
e-mail:
SeanLond@aol.com