Dunnes Stores strike.

Comhrá

Just went down to the Jetland branch to show support to the Dunnes Stores workers on picket duty.

Took a walk inside and the place is almost deserted. Eerily quiet.

Strange sight on a Thursday morning. Support from the shopping public seems to be very high, lots of motorists stopping to say a few words of encouragement, hooting horns etc.

Berty

Briarhill in Galway is weirdly quiet. Passed door at 9:30 after going to bank. Only one guy standing at main road at lights. Gave him a toot of horn. Only car out of about 50 at junction.

Nobody outside eyre square either.

Mr.H

tippman1 wrote: »

Just went down to the Jetland branch to show support to the Dunnes Stores workers on picket duty.

Took a walk inside and the place is almost deserted. Eerily quiet.

Strange sight on a Thursday morning. Support from the shopping public seems to be very high, lots of motorists stopping to say a few words of encouragement, hooting horns etc.

You know your not suppose to go in as its crossing the picket line or did you use the excuse that your "only having a look" wink wink

I for one wont be using Dunnes until the issue is resolved. Couple of my mates (we all use Dunnes regularly) will be doing the same.

Strike or no strike its not resolved until management enter into talks

Comhrá

Mr.H wrote: »

You know your not suppose to go in as its crossing the picket line or did you use the excuse that your "only having a look" wink wink

I for one wont be using Dunnes until the issue is resolved. Couple of my mates (we all use Dunnes regularly) will be doing the same.

Strike or no strike its not resolved until management enter into talks

I made sure to stop at the picket line and ask if it was ok to have a look inside and I promised that I was definitely not shopping. The workers were ok with that.

Mr.H

tippman1 wrote: »

I made sure to stop at the picket line and ask if it was ok to have a look inside and I promised that I was definitely not shopping. The workers were ok with that.

Its fine I was curious to see how empty the place was as well

Delighted for Dunnes. Getting everything it deserves. They haven't treated their employees in the right manner in a very very long time. Now they will see that who the public are supporting

thesimpsons

are they picketing at the entrance to Dunnes or at the entrance to the show shopping mall? Hopfully they not affecting the chemist and the other few shops struggling to survive.

Comhrá

thesimpsons wrote: »

are they picketing at the entrance to Dunnes or at the entrance to the show shopping mall? Hopfully they not affecting the chemist and the other few shops struggling to survive.

Well, at the Jetland, Limerick branch they're picketing outside at the main entrance opposite the Bank of Ireland. Not sure how the other outlets in the mall are faring tbh.

Cookiemunster

thesimpsons wrote: »

are they picketing at the entrance to Dunnes or at the entrance to the show shopping mall? Hopfully they not affecting the chemist and the other few shops struggling to survive.

Dunnes own the whole Jetland Center so the won't let staff picket inside the mall. The Parkway are allowing Dunnes staff to picket inside the mall as long as they don't interfere with the other stores.

Mr.H

Well I guess you cant make omelettes without buying some eggs

893bet

Aldi was packed this morning!

ongarboy

I'm often cynical of unions and strikes as I feel they often do more damage than good for employees but in this case I'm fully supportive. Employees not knowing how many hours they'll work on a given week apart from 15 hours which for most, would not be survivable wages, is very bad form on the part of Dunnes (one of the richest families in Ireland).

Cookiemunster

ongarboy wrote: »

I'm often cynical of unions and strikes as I feel they often do more damage than good for employees but in this case I'm fully supportive. Employees not knowing how many hours they'll work on a given week apart from 15 hours which for most, would not be survivable wages, is very bad form on the part of Dunnes (one of the richest families in Ireland).

My brother works in Dunnes and there are week when he comes home with less than he'd get on the dole. They're a horrible company to work for.
Over the last few weeks management tried to intimidate staff into not striking. To say that it back fired spectacularly is an understatement.

puntosporting

Childers road is busy today lots of people in and out of there!
There is only 3 or 4 outside on the road picketing!

osarusan

About 20-30 staff outside Henry Street Dunnes, with signs, stickers, and leaflets.

Angrybastard

There were very few picketers at Citywest and none at Saggart.
In Citywest, people were just wandering past the picket like it wasn't there.

Interestingly, all the picketers I saw were men.
The reason I point this out is, it's usually women at the checkout.
If there were more of the checkout workers on the picketline, perhaps people would be less inclined to cross it.
Also, I wonder did Dunnes get all their deliveries today.
It would be great if suppliers refused to deliver to them.

Angrybastard

There were very few picketers at Citywest and none at Saggart.
In Citywest, people were just wandering past the picket like it wasn't there.

Interestingly, all the picketers I saw were men.
The reason I point this out is, it's usually women at the checkout.
If there were more of the checkout workers on the picketline, perhaps people would be less inclined to cross it.
Also, I wonder if Dunnes got all their deliveries today.
It would be great if suppliers refused to deliver to them.

Berty

I don't know about deliveries but I was due to visit 4 stores in Galway today, as a rep, and there's no way I was passing any picket.

I saw the news clips. A girl was shouting on henry street dublin over and over asking people not to pass. In Limerick and Galway they were just observing a strike with signs and waving to cars beeping.

Swiper the fox

People will almost never pass a picket. I wouldn't take empty shops as a sign of public support. I'm saying that as someone who had that experience today. Was on my way into Henry Street when I saw the picket and went to tesco instead. I have no opinion on this matter but a low opinion of unions In general.

Insect Overlord

A few of my friends reckon a lot of shopping was done on-line and delivered today.

Greenmachine

Beer Baron wrote: »

I don't know about deliveries but I was due to visit 4 stores in Galway today, as a rep, and there's no way I was passing any picket.

I saw the news clips. A girl was shouting on henry street dublin over and over asking people not to pass. In Limerick and Galway they were just observing a strike with signs and waving to cars beeping.

I don't agree with any kind of intimidatory behaviour. Can you link to the clip, to make sure I don't have the wrong idea.

Berty

Greenmachine wrote: »

I don't agree with any kind of intimidatory behaviour. Can you link to the clip, to make sure I don't have the wrong idea.

To be clear I'm not using the term "intimidatory"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRvAwdO5r8U

Greenmachine

Beer Baron wrote: »

To be clear I'm not using the term "intimidatory"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRvAwdO5r8U

Okay video looks reasonable enough. Not sure what they can achieve, if the company won't engage with the union. These type of contract seem really common at the moment in retail.
Personally I have rejected jobs with similar terms, where I was told the contract would be 3hr * 5 days. I would be €55 short of my jobseekers even before I counted travel cost. Sickening really. These type of contract are only really of any benefit to those under 25 on a jobseekers of €100.

Charlie George

The dunnes stores employees that continued to work while there collegues were on the picket line should be ashamed of themselves.

mgbgt1978

Eh, it was the Full-timers who worked during the strike. They are contracted to work 39 hours a week anyway.
After 30 years shopping there you must surely know something about the company by now.....:rolleyes:

893bet

mgbgt1978 wrote: »

Eh, it was the Full-timers who worked during the strike. They are contracted to work 39 hours a week anyway.
After 30 years shopping there you must surely know something about the company by now.....:rolleyes:

I doubt it was as simple as that. I am sure many full times didn't pass the picket.

Some workers did I am sure, and perhaps they have their reasons, along with management. They worked a skeleton staff then.

salamanca22

I feel sorry for the workers and all but I also feel sorry for the adjacent shops in the various shopping centers that must have lost business too.

Tesco on the roxboro road was packed all day yesterday though!

Greenmachine

Not everyone working in Dunnes Store may be registered with a union. Non-membership of an union, means you can't legally strike. Strike can only be legal when balloted correctly.

stefanovich

Tesco at Coonagh was insane on Thursday evening. Dunnes must have lost an enormous amount of money.

Clareman

The strike is over, if you want to discuss the strike, it's merits, people passing the picket line, etc. etc. please find the relevant forum, I don't think the Limerick forum is the right place.