Carol Nolan (Offaly, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I met the Tesco workers in Tullamore and stood in solidarity with them on the picket line. It is appalling that long-term Tesco workers are being told to accept unacceptable and imposed changes to their contracts or to get out the door. The new contracts would result in some workers experiencing reduced incomes of up to 15% along with increased use of undecided hours. Already 10% of Tesco staff are so low paid that the State has to top up their incomes with supplementary welfare. This is despite the fact the company makes profits of millions and much more than any other retailer in Ireland.

The wider issue is that there is real fear among union members that this is an attempt by Tesco to undermine trade union membership, as we have seen with other retailers, and it needs to be stopped. It has been reported that Tesco has written to staff to encourage them to leave their union as part of Project Black. This is seen by many within the trade union movement as a clear attempt by Tesco to undermine further the terms and conditions of staff in order to increase its already large profits. It is a disgrace. This Government needs to stand with the workers and it needs to act to ensure that trade union membership is protected at all times. It needs to stand up to corporations that are exploiting workers in the State.

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