Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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310. To ask the Minister for Jobs, Enterprise and Innovation her views on industrial action planned at a company (details supplied) on 14 February 2017; the steps she is taking to ensure workers' contracts are not unilaterally changed without their agreement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8026/17]

Mary Mitchell O'Connor (Dún Laoghaire, Fine Gael)
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I understand the dispute at Tesco relates to proposed changes to pre 1996 employee contracts that set out the terms and conditions of employment for about 280 of the 14,500 staff that are employed at Tesco.

In situations such as this I would always advise and encourage parties to use the offices of the Workplace Relations Commission and the Labour Court and they have done so on this occasion.

I understand there was an extensive process of engagement and negotiation which culminated, in August 2016 last, with the Workplace Relations Commission making its own proposals for resolution of the issues at the request of the parties. In the event those proposals were rejected by the Union side.

The matter was then referred to the Labour Court.

On 21 November 2016 the Labour Court recommended that the parties should, over a period of eight weeks, engage in a locally based process in an attempt to allow settlement at local store level.  The Court recommended that the process should be guided generally by the content of the Workplace Relations Commission proposals.  I understand that if this did not succeed the Labour Court recommended that the Workplace Relations Commission proposals should then be accepted as the means of national resolution of the issues.

I understand that the union side rejected the Labour Court recommendation and did not engage in this local process. After balloting its members, Mandate served strike notice on Tesco and industrial action commenced on Tuesday 14 February at 8 stores. The stores involved are Baggot Street, Ballyfermot and Finglas in Dublin, as well as stores in Tralee, Longford, Navan, Tullamore, and Bray. I understand another 8 stores will commence industrial action this Friday, 17 February and that a further 22 stores will be balloted from Monday next.

This is disappointing given the efforts of the WRC and Labour Court.

Our industrial relations institutions have been heavily involved in this dispute and have put forward independent proposals and recommendations. They will be monitoring how this situation evolves over the coming days. I hope that you can join with me in encouraging all sides to make every effort to reach a resolution by agreement between the company management and the workers represented by their trade unions.