“However, we’re determined to ensure that we get compensation for being summarily dismissed as well as the money we’re owed for the company’s breaches of the Payment of Wages legislation. It seems very strange to us that, in this day and age, our employer can get away with ignoring the Labour Relations Commission and the Rights Commissioners and leave us ‘high and dry’ as a result.”
“However, only a few weeks later, Connolly’s Shoes insisted that the staff take a further pay cut and accept more changes to their working hours. The staff asked their employer to negotiate with Mandate Trade Union and he refused. Connolly’s Shoes then asked the workers to sign an undertaking agreeing to these changes and when two refused, they were sacked without any notice. Two of their colleagues supported the two sacked workers and they were summarily dismissed as well. ” Joe Donnelly pointed out that nearly 10,000 people have signed a petition calling on the owners of Connolly Shoes to enter negotiations with their staff members or their representatives Mandate Trade Union.
Mr Keegan concluded by saying that if the four strikers get the money they are owed then they could get back to living more normal lives once again. He also acknowledged the huge support they have received from Mandate Trade Union, elected representatives and members of the public.
“The strike was granted ‘all out strike’ status by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and has received incredible support from the public. During July 2010, hundreds of local Dun Laoghaire people, trade unionists and prominent politicians – including the Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Éamon Gilmore TD – turned out in support of the workers at a public rally,” Mr Donnelly concluded.
Joe Donnelly explained some of the background to the one-year old strike. “Connolly’s Shoes’ staff always recognised that in the current environment it may be necessary to look at reducing costs. In this context, it’s a measure of their commitment to the company that in autumn 2009, they believed that they had an agreement on working a shorter working week and hoped that the company’s owners would sit down and negotiate an ongoing agreement with them. From left to right: Connolly’s Shoes workers Damien Keegan, John Mulpetre, Susan Tonge and Pat Byrne
MANDATE NEWS / Summer 2011
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