24th December 2021
Re: The Sale of the Company
Dear members,
Further to the news this morning that the BT/Arnott’s business has been sold to the Central and real estate group, Signa owned by the billionaire Chirathivat family I wish to advise you that company representative Joe O’Loughlin Employee Relations contacted me on foot of this development to confirm same following widespread media speculation yesterday regarding a potential sale.
Given the uncertainty that arose again in the media yesterday regarding a potential sale, I want to reassure you that your Union didn’t hesitate in writing to the company’s senior management team again seeking reassurances and guarantees that plans would be put in place to address the requests outlined in my correspondence of the 3rd December 2021 to Joe O’Loughlin, which we have already circulated to members, in the event that a sale was imminent.
I want to also remind all our members at this juncture that Mandate is and will continue to monitor this development over the coming days and weeks ahead along with our local representatives. We have also sought from the senior management team commitments to engage in meaningful consultation and timely communication regarding the transfer of the business with the Unions BT/Arnott’s negotiating team at the appropriate time. To this end, I would encourage all stores to establish with their Shop Stewards and local Union Officials, Union House Committee structures in each location.
We will keep you updated on any further developments.
Yours sincerely,
Jonathan Hogan
Assistant General Secretary