Dessie Ellis (Dublin North West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

As the Minister of State will be aware, there are negotiations going on at present between union representatives and Tesco management. Hopefully, a more sensible approach will be taken by Tesco, and not the confrontational one which was previously taken which triggered almost two weeks of protests by workers.

The support shown by the public who, in significant numbers, did not pass the pickets and supported the workers over the strike is heartening and commendable. The resolve of the workers who I met at Clearwater, Finglas, and Drumcondra is one to be applauded, as is the support given by the public and the business community.

The Government has failed to stand up for workers' rights and has allow a profitable company, Tesco, attempt to bully workers and tear up hard-fought agreements and contracts. This inaction by the Government is only facilitating a race to the bottom and attempts by Sinn Féin and others to improve workers rights have been thwarted by the Government and Fianna Fáil.

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