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Debenhams redundancy deal 'a slap in the face' to staff

Debenhams staff who were laid off earlier this year are rallying this afternoon as they prepare f...
Newsroom
Newsroom

14.12 5 Sep 2020


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Debenhams redundancy deal 'a s...

Debenhams redundancy deal 'a slap in the face' to staff

Newsroom
Newsroom

14.12 5 Sep 2020


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Debenhams staff who were laid off earlier this year are rallying this afternoon as they prepare for their 150th night on the picket lines.

Shop stewards say the million-euro redundancy deal proposed by liquidator KPMG and their trade union Mandate yesterday is a "slap in the face".

The deal would see Debenhams increase its redundancy offer to staff by €1m after more than five months of negotiations.

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Additionally, it proposes that the department store would pay workers one-third of any profit from the sale of stock.

The full details will be announced early next week ahead of a ballot of workers.

However, shop stewards say at least €10m needs to be made available, and that there's €25m worth of stock in the shops.

Valerie Conlon, the shop steward for the former department store on Patrick's Street in Cork, says the deal is just not good enough.

She said: "It's an insult, it's a slap in the face to staff, especially those of us who have been out there for nearly 150 days.

"That's what they thought would be an okay offer.

"But it's different now compared to what it was, because before we had no offer but people today will now be telling Mandate and KPMG that we will not be accepting what they're trying to force upon us."

Additional reporting by Michael Staines

Main image: Debenhams workers protesting outside Debenhams on Henry Street Dublin in July. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie

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