Dear member,

Following 14 hours of protracted discussions in the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) yesterday, Tesco Ireland has agreed that no changes to workers’ conditions of employment will take place before discussions continue on Monday, 23^rd May 2016. On the same basis Mandate has agreed to defer strike action until the conclusion of discussions.

The Commission has asked both parties to refrain from “any activity by way of statement, comment or action that would exacerbate an already difficult situation.”

Mandate and Tesco Ireland have agreed to these requests.

All members are asked to communicate with their shop steward, local official or Mandate Head Office if there is any breach of this agreement in your store. This may include:

• Threats to cut pay or conditions of employment.
• Changes to rostering patterns.
• Cuts to overtime.
• Any anti-union activity including attempts to persuade Mandate members to leave their union.
• Any other hostile actions against you or your fellow Mandate members.

The full text of the WRC statement is below.

In solidarity,

Gerry Light

Mandate Assistant General Secretary

——————————–

“The Commission has engaged with both parties over the last 14 hours over complex matters relating to the Tesco dispute.

The Commission is exploring various options for the resolution of the dispute with both parties, but is not in a position to advance the negotiations at this stage.

The Commission has requested both sides to consider their respective positions over the two days and to return to the Commission on Monday next, 23^rd May 2016.

In the interim period, and in order to create an atmosphere conducive to constructive negotiations on Monday next, the Commission requests that neither party engages in any activity by way of statement, comment or action that would exacerbate an already difficult situation.

Kieran Mulvey, Director General WRC

Brian McGinn, Regional Manager, WRC

18^th May 2016”

To all Mandate Members employed by Tesco Ireland Ltd: 

Dear Member,

Following the decision by Tesco to remove their threat to unilaterally reduce the terms and conditions of our members, Mandate as a consequence deferred the strike planned for Monday 16 May 2016. Both parties have also agreed to attend the Workplace Relations Commission [WRC] for discussions on Wednesday 18 May 2016. As always, Mandate and your Shop Stewards will approach these discussions in good faith in an effort to resolve the issues in dispute.

As you are aware, all our members’ terms and conditions are determined by collective bargaining between Tesco and Mandate and ultimately voted on in a democratic ballot of our members. In the Irish Republic, we pride ourselves on conducting our negotiations in a professional, open and democratic fashion, with no side attempting to pre-determine the outcome of said negotiations. The essence of Tesco’s approach in this dispute is to fundamentally move away from this approach in that from the outset Tesco pre-determined that only one outcome was possible. If this approach is not challenged it will have serious consequences for all Tesco workers and their terms and conditions of employment in the future. Just ask yourself, when will your current contract of employment become “old fashioned” and a new “modern contract” forced on you in the future?

This is the essence of this dispute and the vast majority of Mandate members understand this, they want to continue to have a voice at work, in the organisation of their work and the terms of their contracts of employment.

So, as always, we will keep you updated on developments at the WRC on 18 May 2016.

Yours fraternally

For Mandate Trade Union 

John Douglas

General Secretary

Full Tesco letter from the General Secretary here:

Tesco Ireland – update 160516

The Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) has invited Mandate Trade Union and Tesco Ireland into conciliation talks next Wednesday (18^th May 2016) in an effort to resolve the ongoing dispute. 

Following confirmation that Tesco has agreed to withdraw their threat to make changes to workers’ conditions of employment on Monday, 16^th May, Mandate has agreed to suspend industrial action pending the outcome of conciliation talks.

Mandate Assistant General Secretary Gerry Light said, “Mandate has always said we are prepared to engage with Tesco in good faith negotiations, either directly, or at a third party such as the WRC or the Labour Court, and that remains the case.”

He added, “We believe this dispute can be resolved at the WRC or Labour Court but Tesco have to be willing to engage in good faith negotiations too.” 

Mandate say they are continuing to prepare for industrial action in the event talks break down on Wednesday.

Mandate Trade Union has confirmed that pickets will be placed on more than 70 Tesco outlets across the Republic of Ireland following the company’s confirmation that they will be implementing pay cuts and changes to conditions of employment for up to 300 of their staff on Monday morning (16^th May 2016).

The Union says Tesco has the capacity to prevent the strike by withdrawing their threat to cut workers’ wages without agreement or by attending the Labour Court for a hearing on the matters in dispute.

Tesco management are attempting to force through changes to workers’ conditions of employment including:

• 15-35% pay cuts.
• The slashing of overtime.
• Cuts to Sunday and unsociable hours premiums from double pay to time and a half.
• A reduction in the annual bonus.
• Changes to rosters.

Mandate say Tesco’s campaign of attacks on workers with more than 20 years service is disgraceful.

Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary said, “Tesco management are forcing changes to contracts for workers employed before 1996. These changes will seriously undermine living standards for our members who have mortgages and other commitments which were made on the back of their conditions of employment over the last 20-30 years.”

He added, “Tesco is an extremely profitable employer making more than €200 million in profits in the Republic of Ireland, and now they’re attacking the very people who built the company to what it is today.”

Mandate say many of the Tesco workers have phoned the union in tears over the treatment they are receiving from the company. Reports from members say they are being pressured into leaving the business or face the prospect of severely reduced living standards.

Mr Light said, “Despite the anxiety and stress perpetrated by the company on their own employees, hundreds of our members have remained in the business and are prepared to fight to maintain their conditions of employment.”

More than 99pc of pre-1996 staff voted to take industrial action in a ballot last month. Last Sunday 88pc of their colleagues in pre-1996 stores not affected by the cuts balloted in favour of supportive industrial action.

Mr Light concluded, “Tesco’s actions are a worry for all of our members in the company. They are tearing up contracts of employment and implementing changes without agreement and if they get away with doing this to their longest serving members of staff, who will be next?”

Pickets will be placed at more than 70 Tesco stores throughout Ireland from 7am on Monday morning. The pickets will remain in place until Tesco Ireland reverses their cuts or confirms attendance at the Labour Court.

Mandate Trade Union members in Tesco Ireland stores where the company has threatened cuts to pay and conditions of employment have today (Sunday, 8^th May 2016) voted by a margin of 88 percent in favour of supportive industrial action.

Tesco plan on implementing pay cuts of between 15-35 percent for long-serving staff members on the 16^th May 2016. They also intend to alter other conditions of employment without agreement, but Mandate now say that if those changes occur, there will be pickets on all affected stores throughout the Republic of Ireland.

On the 15th April 2016, approximately 1,000 workers directly affected by the proposed cuts voted to take industrial action by a margin of 99pc. Todays’ vote is a supportive ballot of members working in those stores and Mandate say it very clearly shows the level of solidarity among all Tesco workers.

John Douglas, Mandate General Secretary said: “This result sends an emphatic message to Tesco Ireland that this is a unified workforce and if you come after one group of workers, the others will be there to back them up. Our members see this attack on their colleagues as an attack on themselves and they’re prepared to stand and fight against the blatant unfairness of Tesco’s actions.”

He added, “They also know that if Tesco get away with this now, they are next in the firing line.”

Mandate say strike notice will be served on the company tomorrow morning.

Mandate will attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) tomorrow in an attempt to resolve the matters in dispute.

Mandate Trade Union has today (Wednesday, 20^th April 2016) condemned Tesco management in the strongest possible way for their behaviour towards their longest serving staff after reports of bullying are being received from members throughout the Republic of Ireland.

Mandate say they have been inundated with calls from Tesco workers who are distraught because of the pressure management are putting on them to leave the company.

Tesco management have told staff employed before 1996 that they will experience pay cuts of up to 35pc and have their rosters and hours changed on May 16^th if they don’t accept a redundancy package today. The official deadline was yesterday, 19^th April 2016 – but the company has changed it again in an effort to force workers out of their jobs.

“They’re telling workers who have been with them for more than 20 years that unless they accept a redundancy package, they will have their conditions of employment changed without agreement,” said Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary.

“Tesco management were offered an invitation by the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC), to engage in talks on 25^th April and whilst the union accepted, remarkably the company are now refusing to attend until May 2^nd. Clearly the reason for this is to create more time in order to sow seeds of confusion and heap more pressure on their workers to leave,” said Mr Light.

“This type of behaviour is something you’d expect from a schoolyard bully, not from one of the most profitable multi-national retailers in the world.”

Mr Light continued, “To leave your employees with such uncertainty over their future is reprehensible and management should hang their heads in shame,” he said.

“We’re talking about people’s livelihoods; their ability to feed their families and put a roof over their heads. Workers who have given the last 20 years and in some cases 40 years of their lives to this company, are being treated with such disrespect and contempt.”

Mr Light said the company has been issuing a constant stream of threats and timelines which is having a detrimental impact on the mental health of their workers.

“We’re calling on Tesco to take some responsibility and show some decency towards their staff who have helped build this company to what it is today. Our members have had enough of management’s despicable treatment and if Tesco think they can treat their longest serving staff like this, then we’d have some serious concerns as to how they will attempt to treat the rest of their workers in the future,” concluded Mr Light.

Tesco Tralee Manor worker Yvonne Donnelly details the shock, bewilderment and hurt she felt when her employer moved to scrap her existing pre-1996 contract and move her – and more than 1,000 of her colleagues – on to a new one. She describes this like being punched ‘in the gut’. Tesco say the changes will take place on May 16th. 

I started working in Quinnsworth on 27th August 1994. I still remember my first day – I was so excited and happy to have a job. I had just done my Leaving Cert and I was hoping to go into nursing.

Well, as you can tell, I never did go into nursing – I loved my job so much that I stayed and here I am 21-and-a-half years later.

Some days I look back and think about what if I had gone into nursing but then I say to myself, ‘Sure, aren’t I doing a job I love and I’m happy doing it.’

That all changed at 11am on Tuesday, January 26th 2016, when our store manager read out the decision made by Tesco to abolish our existing contracts that had been given to us in 1996 to change us (pre-‘96) to “modern contracts”.

To say I was in complete shock is an understatement. I have always been proud to work for Tesco and I am a very hard-working, loyal colleague with 21-and-a-half years service behind me.

I have worked in various departments over the years and still do on a daily basis. I work in fresh foods, front-end, payroll, I do administration, a bit of training now and again, clips trips – you might even find me behind the deli making pizzas.

I have worked in Tesco stores in Cork, Limerick and other Kerry stores and I hired and trained many existing staff in those stores. I even worked in management for four year, which I loved.

If that is not a flexible colleague then I don’t know what is. I can’t remember a day when I didn’t want to get out of bed to go to work. I love going to work and I love my job, but to be honest I had a pain in my stomach this morning and a feeling of sadness when I was getting up for work.

After the news we got on the 26th, I have never felt more unappreciated, undervalued and disrespected. It was a bitter pill to swallow. I have always shown Tesco loyalty, professionalism and respect and I expected the same in return.

To be honest, it was like someone saying to me, ‘Thanks for 21-and-a-half years of your life, but take that’ (a punch in the gut).

I am only one of more than 1,000 colleagues affected by this news. I can’t imagine the hurt and the anger all over Ireland on Tuesday 26th January.

My family had also been hurt. My husband is more than upset for me, and my children know that there is something wrong with me. I told them, ‘Mummy just has sore eyes’ – and this is only one family.

I have built my life and family life around my job in Tesco. That home/work life balance will now be swept out from under us if my shift pattern changes.

Since 2008 we have all as Irish citizens had to cut the cloth to measure because of our economic climate. I have by no means led a lavish lifestyle before and certainly not after 2008 – and still don’t with three kids and a big mortgage. My husband works part-time so that we didn’t have to pay a child-minder (that we couldn’t afford anyway).

That all gets even worse now with the proposed rate of pay cut and changes to the share bonus scheme. Most people used this bonus to pay their house insurance /car insurance/ health insurance.

The proposed pay cut will have a detrimental affect on my colleagues’ basic standard of living. If my changed pattern of hours clash with my husband’s, then we will have to pay for a child-minder which is another huge financial burden on my family – not to mention the upset it would cause my children to have a stranger minding them and putting to bed (something they never had to experience).

I love my job and I really hope and pray that I will be able to continue working for Tesco for many happy years to come.

Company agree attendance at the Workplace Relations Commission.

Almost 1,000 Mandate Trade Union members in Tesco Ireland have voted emphatically in favour of industrial action by a margin of 99pc. With a turnout of 85% of all pre-1996 staff, Mandate believes the ballot result sends a strong message to Tesco that they cannot simply cut wages or conditions of employment for their workers without agreement.

Meanwhile, on the day Mandate members have voted for strike action, Tesco has now accepted an invitation to attend the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) for a conciliation conference.

Mandate say they are cautiously welcoming Tesco’s commitment to attend the WRC but it must be with the intention to genuinely engage.

Gerry Light, Mandate Trade Union Assistant General Secretary said, “We’ve now served notice on the company that our members intend to strike in the event the company proceeds with their plans to cut wages or alter the contracts of employment without agreement.”

He added, “It’s a pity it took until the declaration of our ballot before the company accepted the invitation to attend the WRC, especially when you consider we wrote to the company more than a month ago. It seems the company was waiting for the result of the ballot before they agreed to engage, but better late than never.”

 

Mandate Trade Union today (Wednesday, 13^th April) condemned Tesco Ireland for continuing their plans to change conditions of employment for 1,000 of their workers without agreement, despite announcing an adjusted operating profit of €1.2bn today.

The company is also refusing to fully implement the terms of a Labour Court Recommendation which awarded a 2pc pay increase and a 1.5pc share bonus payment for all workers in the company.

Tesco workers are facing cuts to their wages of at least 15pc in a matter of weeks while the company continues to make an estimated €200m in profit from its Irish operations.

Gerry Light, Mandate Assistant General Secretary said:

“It’s extremely disappointing that Tesco Ireland have decided to continue their attacks on their own workers despite today’s very positive figures from their operations in the UK and Ireland.

“We’ve been inundated with calls and messages from members asking whether Tesco has withdrawn its threat to attack their conditions now that the company has announced these figures, but unfortunately we’ve seen no indications that Tesco will be backing down,” he said.

“No doubt this will be extremely worrying for all workers in Tesco – seeing that the company has performed so successfully yet they are proceeding with their cost cutting agenda.”

He added, “If they are achieving these profits but continue their attack on conditions of employment for 1,000 of their longest serving staff, you’d wonder who their next target is.

Mr Light concluded by saying, “It’s unfortunate that management refuse to acknowledge the contribution their workers have made to the success of the business in the past 12 months.”

Further video and written communications to members will be issued tomorrow.

Meanwhile balloting for industrial action will continue all across the country over the coming days.