Union welcomes pay increase award to retail workers

An 8% pay increase to retail workers at a major Irish grocery chain has been welcomed by the Mandate Trade Union 

was sought in July.

However, Cathy McLoughlin, member of the union’s Dunnes’ National Committee expressed her and Dunnes’ staff’s disappointment that the company didn’t create a single unified pay scale, more full-time jobs and provide access to more working hours.

The union says it plans to redouble its campaign to achieve these and other aspects of its claim.

“In July, Mandate lodged a claim on behalf of Dunnes Stores’ workers for a brand new pay scale," Ms McLoughlin said.

"Our proposed new pay scale would have provided those on the lowest point of the pay scale with a 7.7% hourly pay increase and those on the top with 7.9% increase. The company’s decision to award staff an 8% pay increase is a clear acceptance of this element of the claim and therefore very welcome as is their lifting of the limit on the staff discount card from €1,000 to €1,500.

“Dunnes’ workers are disappointed, however, that their proposal for one unified pay scale for all workers hasn’t been addressed. At the moment, there are multiple pay scales in the company where some workers are on higher wages than others for doing the exact same job. Mandate wants to harmonise the pay and benefits for all Dunnes’ workers but done in a way that brings the lowest earners up to the top.

"We intend to redouble our efforts so that the need for a unified pay scale is addressed by the company,” Ms McLoughlin said.