Joe Costello (Dublin Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

I compliment the Minister of State, Deputy Nash, on the good work he has been doing in this general area over a period of time. The particular issue I am addressing is a serious one. A date for strike action has been agreed for 2 April by Mandate after every effort was exhausted to try to bring Dunnes Stores to the table to negotiate and use the industrial relations machinery.

I request the Minister of State to use his good offices in whatever way he can to try to persuade Dunnes Stores management to address the issues of conflict between the parties, come to the Labour Court and enter into what would be regarded as normal industrial relations discussions. That is the nub of the matter and it is not unprecedented. Over the last 20 years, Dunnes Stores has been before the Labour Court six times. Therefore, while the company is reluctant to do so at the present time, nevertheless there is a precedent.

The workers at Dunnes Stores are campaigning on four key issues. They are seeking secure hours and incomes, which they do not have at present. Virtually everything is precarious, given the number of hours involved, including zero hour contracts and low pay. They are seeking secure jobs, fair pay and the right to be represented by their trade union. Unfortunately, none of these elements is available at present. The precarious nature of their employment makes it impossible for employees to earn enough for a decent standard of living or to plan for their families' future.

Some 70% of Dunnes Stores' employees are women. Earlier today, we had a meeting with the workers and their Mandate trade union. They informed Members of this House about the issues at stake. One of the women said that of the 69 people working in her Dunnes Stores premises, only one had a permanent contract. All the others are on part-time, low-hours or zero hour contracts. It is incredible in this day and age that there is that level of uncertainty about the work place in a major outlet. We are talking about a huge workforce comprising 10,000 employees in 122 stores in the Republic of Ireland. It is an Irish company that has roughly 24% of the market in this country. The company should be exemplary in showing the way forward on pay, working conditions and industrial relations.

I am bringing these issues to the Minister of State's attention to see how best we can address them. The decision to embark on industrial action was taken as a last resort when Mandate balloted its members. Some 67% of the members voted in the ballot, of which 67% voted for strike action. Therefore, this industrial action has strong support among the workforce which mainly comprises women. In that sense there is a further gender gap in low pay that needs to be addressed.

I acknowledge the Minister of State's work in the area of precarious employment, including zero hour and low hour contracts. He has established the Low Pay Commission to deal with minimum pay. In addition, the Cabinet has agreed to ensure that legislation on collective bargaining mechanisms will be introduced.

All of these come together as regards what we are talking about today. Specifically, we need to ensure that every effort is made in order that Dunnes Stores would come to the negotiating table and that there would be a satisfactory solution without having to embark on industrial action. Certainly, if there is industrial action on this issue with this cohort of people, I do not see any reason everybody in this House should not be in favour of the workforce.

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