Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As we know, Tesco workers began industrial action on Tuesday, which was St. Valentine's Day. It was not for the fun of it; rather, it was to ensure that their employer would honour the workers' terms and conditions.

In this day and age it is an absolute disgrace that they would have to do so and that proper workers' rights are not enshrined in legislation to protect them and their terms and conditions.

On Tuesday morning I attended in solidarity with the workers in Ballyfermot and will do so as the strike continues. Tesco's action in its assault on the terms and conditions of these workers and its union busting attitude is reminiscent of the actions of William Martin Murphy and his ilk and is a continuation of a move by many employers in a race to the bottom in terms of wages and terms and conditions which we have seen for decades and which the State has not prevented.

It is the State's job to protect workers' rights. I call on the State to step in and prevent companies, especially those as profitable as Tesco, which is one of the most profitable retailers in Ireland, from slashing wages. For it to attack and assault workers' rights is disgraceful, especially when we consider that many of those who work for Tesco end up dependent on the State for a top up. This is a move that other retailers and companies are doing more frequently to ensure that workers are dependent on the State rather than the company. These people have worked and provided the companies' profits and the only answer the companies have, in particular Tesco, is to attack the terms and conditions of the workers.

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