Tesco workers in Sligo continue their strike this afternoon.
Mandate members there went on strike at 8am over pay and conditions.
Therese Madden Reports:
Mandate members from the Tesco store in Sligo took to the picket line this morning at 4:30am to voice their concerns over a number of issues such as pay, the removal of canteen and break-room facilities and the breaking of agreements between management and workers.
Gerard McBride has worked at the store for 16 years. He explains why he felt it was necessary to go on strike today.
Alanna Cullen has been employed by Tesco for last 14 years and says staff are not happy with changes to their contracts.
Tesco claims the strike breaches the union and the company’s agreed procedures for disputes.
And it is urging Mandate to resume co-operation with the industrial relations processes, having rejected a conciliation conference at the Workplace Relations Commission on October 24th regarding the issues in Sligo.
However Mandate Spokesperson for the North West Ciaran Campbell says he feels workers had no other option but to go on strike today and says and 97% of workers balloted voted to take industrial action.
A day of strike action is planned for next Friday December 14th and in the Carrick on Shannon store on December 22nd.
