This afternoon.
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
The launch of the Solidarity/People Before Profit Companies (Protection of Employees Rights in Liquidations) Bill 2021 which will be moved at first stage in the Dáil tomorrow, inspired by the actions of the Debenhams workers.
Present at the launch was Karen Gearon (red jacket) who was a shop steward (top centre) in the Dunnes Stores anti-apartheid strike 1984-7.
This morning.
Moore Street, Dublin 1.
Mandate members who previously worked in Debenhams mark one year in dispute with their former employer.
Mandate trade union has been maintaining pickets outside the 11 stores in pursuit of…
… enhanced redundancy terms of four weeks’ per year of service provided for under a 2016 collective agreement with their former employer – rather than the statutory minimum of two weeks’ per year of service capped at €600 per week.
To date their campaign has secured a ring-fenced €3 million training and upskilling fund to assist the workers, but that was rejected on the basis that it failed to deliver cash payments.
The union is also calling for new legislation to boost the employment rights of workers caught up in insolvency situations.
Protests to mark one year since liquidation of Debenhams (RTÉ)
Leo Varadkar whose constituency includes Blanchardstown is yet again asked straight-out now in the Dail by Richard Boyd Barrett if removing Debenhams stock is "essential" or prohibited under the current lockdown.
And the response?
"There are sad aspects" to this! https://t.co/lTkayVTScr— nwl (@nwl88444048) April 1, 2021
This afternoon.
Earlier…
Gardai deployed around 4am to break up picket at Blanchardstown #Debenhams & allow 4 trucks remove stock in a level 5 lockdown. Women/ men, including myself, were carried off by about 25 gardai. Opted not to use injunction but to physically haul us off & assist strike breaking. pic.twitter.com/oFnSixLgZj
— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) April 1, 2021
This morning.
Blanchardstown, Dublin.
Meanwhile…
We should note mobilising of gardai for strike breaking against #Debenhams workers, rather than going after the likes of the Beacon golden circle or #LeoTheLeak, who ironically is the minister allowing this non essential business & a local TD of these workers in #dubw
— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) April 1, 2021
In fairness.
This afternoon.
Kildare Street, Dublin 2.
Debenhams workers outside the Dáil calling on Taoiseach Micheál Martin to intervene in their redundancy payment dispute and convene talks involving the government, Debenhams shop stewards, Mandate and the store’s liquidator KPMG. They also called on the public to boycott Debenhams online store.
This morning/afternoon.
Newbridge, County Kildare.
Defiant ex-Debenhams workers (above) outside the back entrance to the Newbridge branch.
Earlier (top), gardai were at the scene as a truck from liquidator KPMG was prevented from leaving with stock. Similar action took place at a store in Blackrock, County Dublin.
The workers are still owed promised redundancy payments Last week, the High Court granted KPMG an injunction preventing ‘actions interfering with efforts to remove stock’ from the former stores.
Earlier: Meanwhile, In Blackrock
Former Debenhams staff clash with removal van workers attempting to remove stock from Blackrock store pic.twitter.com/gxAQe1wC50
— Kevin O’Mahony (@Kev_OMahony) October 21, 2020
With @DebenhamsIRE workers in Blackrock. Great support this morning after alert from @KPMG that they will try to move stock. Gov must get off the fence & ensure workers get just redundancy. #debenhams #PhysicalDistancing @pb4p @rtenews pic.twitter.com/vsWCIWSvix
— Richard Boyd Barrett (@RBoydBarrett) October 21, 2020
This morning.
Blackrock, County Dublin.
More as we get it.
UPDATE:
The High Court has granted an injunction to the provisional liquidators of the Irish arm of retailer, Debenhams, preventing unlawful actions and any interference with efforts to remove stock from its former stores.
The injunction applies to anyone with knowledge of the order. Copies will be put at the entrances of the stores and shopping centres.
Debenhams liquidators granted injunction in High Court (RTÉ)
Earlier…
This afternoon.
The Four Courts, Dublin 1.
Former Debenhams workers protest while the store’s liqudators, KPMG, seek a High Court injunction to stop picketing at branches. Ex-staff have striked since March and stopped stock being removed from stores without their agreed redundancy being paid.
Meanwhile…
Absolutely disgraceful RTE were not at High Court today as strikers face a court injunction. Fits with scant coverage national broadcaster has given #Debenhams workers. Virgin media here.@ingridmileyRTE @rtenews @RTEOne @rte pic.twitter.com/s4gGnWYCvZ
— Ruth Coppinger (@RuthCoppingerSP) October 13, 2020
Oh.
This morning/afternoon.
Henry Street, Dublin 1.
Sinn Féin President Mary Lou McDonald (above centre) with Debenhams workers ahead of a High Court hearing tomorrow where the store’s liquidators KPMG is seeking an injuction to stop picketing at the stores. The workers, who were made redundant in April, have still not received their promised redundancy payments.
Previously: Behind You
This morning.
Further to the voting down of a Dáil motion on Wednesday night calling for a ringfenced insolvency fund to be established which would facilitate all payments due to workers (including recently laid off Debenhams staff) if a company goes bust…by just three votes.
Ciara G writes:
Our Fianna Fáil/Fine Gael/Greens government voted 24-21 AGAINST a motion that would see Debenhams workers getting their redundancy that is owed to them. Above is a list of the TDs that voted against the motion.
Meanwhile…
Ah here.
Ciara G adds:
Fianna Fáil are performative, they do not care. Fianna Fáil TD Padriag O’Sullivan (above) stood on the picket line only to vote against workers in the Dáil. Taoiseach Micheál Martin came to the picket line in Cork over a month ago for a photo op and has done nothing to help since.
Debenhams workers march on Taoiseach’s Cork office demanding he ‘step up to plate’ (Irish Examiner)
This afternoon.
Stephen’s Green, Dublin 2
Debenhams workers and their supporters picket outside Klynveld Peat Marwick Goerdele (KPMG) accountancy and auditing firm, who are dealing with the store chain’s liquidation.
The workers, who were made redundant in April, have still not received their redundancy payments.
