DATE: 15th February 2022
TO: All Members Eason Patrick St. Cork
Re: Redundancy
Dear Member
Please see copy of joint correspondence sent to Ms. Carmel Murphy, Group Head of HR, for your information.
Yours sincerely
for Mandate Trade Union
Lorraine O’ Brien
Divisional Organiser
___________________________________________________________________________
15th February 2022
Ms Carmel Murphy
Group Head of Human Resources
Eason Ltd.
Block 4
First Floor (Hertz Building)
Swords Business Park
Swords
Co Dublin
Re: Redundancy
Dear Ms Murphy
I hope this letter finds you well. Following initial discussions with management and the subsequent company proposal, a national committee meeting of SIPTU/Mandate representatives was held last week. Having considered the company proposal, the following is the committee’s response.
The company chose to open a voluntary severance package in the absence of any negotiation, consultation, or agreement with the unions and in the full knowledge of the existence of the 2011 LRC Agreement (c-111024-11) with both SIPTU/Mandate. Furthermore said agreement was accepted in full including the redundancy terms in a letter from IBEC on behalf of Eason’s 21 May 2015 to Mr Brendan Cunningham IRO in the WRC.
For the avoidance of any doubt, the company have so far failed to provide credible evidence for a deviation from this agreement, other than a stated desire to put named stores on a decent footing post the pandemic with some downsizing identified in Cork. Moreover it appears the company wish to reduce top line costs by releasing some staff with pre 2011 contracts to allow for a lower cost base and a greater degree of flexibility.
As was stated at our meeting the unions are totally opposed to the company proposal and believe a referral to the appropriate third party is warranted in the circumstances outlined.
We trust this clarifies the Unions position, please contact the undersigned for any further clarification.
Regards
Lorraine O’ Brien Myles Worth
Mandate Divisional Organiser SIPTU Industrial Officer