ONLINE EDITION MANDATE TRADE UNION DECEMBER 2020 SHOPFLOOR NEW DEAL FOR DISTRIBUTION & RETAIL WORKERS P4 UPFRONT GERRY LIGHT P2 l INSIDE STORY DEBENHAMS P20 COVEROPINION STORY FRONT COVER ILLUSTRATION: Barry McGowan 2020 – a year to reflect THIS is the first opportunity I have had to pen that some businesses have done very this piece as the General Secretary of our proud nicely as a direct consequence of Covid and distinguished union and I want to say it is a through significant increases in turnover pleasure and honour to do so. and profits. Twelve months ago the term Covid-19 was unknown along UPFRONT Whether it is over the past nine months, with any understanding of the deadly virus to which it re- or indeed as we head into 2021, the best ferred. There can be little doubt that the rapid and intense General Secretary, way of facing uncertainty is not individu- spread of this global pandemic has virtually stopped us all in Gerry Light Mandate Trade Union ally. By acting in this isolated manner it will our tracks and forced us to not only look at always ensure that workers’ interests are how we reorganise our day-to-day lives but placed secondary to those of business and also to reassess the things which are impor- the market. tant beyond those of material value. If nothing else the Covid crisis has shown It is also an opportunity to challenge from a societal perspective what can be the societal and economic norms which achieved through acting collectively. The value a job purely from a financial per- notion of the common good has quite spective instead of asking what contribu- rightly been given a renewed sense of tion it makes to our society as a whole, focus and importance. particularly during a time of national cri- The workplace is merely a microcosm of sis. society. What we need now is to see a trans- Regrettably many sectors, industries and fer of these values by workers into their businesses have been ravaged over the place of work and to help them build an past nine months with the world of retail in understanding of how they can lead to particular being severely impacted. This greater levels of reward, respect, fulfilment stark reality has meant thousands of retail Picture: Jonathan Cutrer, Public Domain and dignity. workers have lost their jobs with others Being a union operating predominantly in They have put themselves literally in the having their incomes seriously depleted. the retail sector, Mandate has along with its line of fire and the least they deserve in re- The power and benefits that can evolve from a collective approach are clearly Those who have remained at work pro- members been very much in the eye of the turn is appropriate appreciation and due storm. Clearly the biggest impact so far has viding what now is generally accepted as consideration. proven all we need to do is reassert our been the loss of more than 1,000 good qual- an essential public service have to face the With the advancement of technology al- confidence in the belief that by joining to- ity retail jobs following the decision of constant threat and worry of contracting lowing for greater levels of automation and gether in common purpose this approach Debenhams to close its Irish operation. the virus. the way these developments have changed will continue to deliver in the future. What has followed over the past nine customers’ shopping habits there can be lit- As the recently appointed General Secre- months is a determined and heroic effort by tle doubt that the shape of traditional bricks tary of Mandate I give you an absolute as- our members who have been involved in and mortar retail has also significantly surance that myself, the staff and members actively picketing, in some cases 24/7, the 11 changed over the past number of years, the of our National Executive Council will con- ex-Debenhams stores in pursuit of a just arrival of Covid has served to accelerate tinue to tirelessly strive to lead our mem- and fair settlement to their industrial dis- these trends considerably. bers through the current challenges facing pute. Notwithstanding the promising news that us. Clearly this has been and continues to be is emerging on a daily basis about potential a long and difficult struggle for the mem- vaccines there can be little doubt the world We will ensure that the interests of our bers involved and we are committed to en- of retail that will emerge post-Covid has the members are always to the forefront – sure that their efforts will not be in vain. potential to be radically different. whether it’s in relation to issues directly im- Also significant numbers of our members This is why Mandate continues to demand pacting them in the workplace or indeed employed in the bar trade have seen their from Government the establishment of a the broader social justice matters that im- livelihoods wiped out with growing uncer- specific taskforce charged with the respon- pact them and their dependents. tainty about the future of the sector and the sibility of identifying supports for the future Never before has the wish for you, your many thousands workers it employs. of traditional bricks and mortar retailing and families and friends to have a happy, safe There is no price too great which can the thousands of jobs it supports. and enjoyable Christmas and New Year be placed on human health and Post-Covid some employers will seek, in been more sincere and appropriate. It’s that is why we will continue to the greedy pursuit of greater profits, to take been a tough year, unfortunately far too prioritise the absolute need to advantage of the situation – in fact, there is ensure that our members who many of us knew those who paid the ulti- evidence that this type of unscrupulous be- mate price. turn up for work on a daily haviour has already started. basis are afforded the great- However, as we head into 2021 let’s do so est levels of protection and Going forward it will be the role of your in the confidence of knowing that if we union in consort with you the members to respect from both employ- continue to have each other’s backs and fight back against these unjustified at- ers and customers alike. commit to acting in unity and common tacks on your hard-won, long-established There must be zero toler- terms and conditions of employment. purpose the future holds more promise ance against behaviour than fear. So let’s stop hoping for a better To those employers who were quick to from any quarter that has new year, instead let’s resolve to do what laud the contributions of their workers dur- the potential to nega- we can within our control to make it hap- tively impact our mem- ing the Covid crisis, we say it is now time to pen. bers’ physical or mental go beyond words of gratitude with other well-being. forms of meaningful recognition and re- Have a great Christmas and New Year, ward. It is hard to escape the ironic reality you deserve it. Shopfloor is published bi-monthly by Mandate Trade Union. Mandate Head Office, O'Lehane House, 9 Cavendish Row, Dublin 1 T: 01-8746321/2/3 F: 01-8729581 W: www.mandate.ie Design & Editing: Brazier Media E: [email protected] W:www.brazier.media Shopfloor is edited, produced and printed by trade union labour 2 SHOPFLOOR y December 2020 NEWS BAH HUMBUG! LLoyds Pharmacy ‘Scrooges’ cancel Xmas staff bonus LLOYDS Pharmacy bosses have been they had of Christmas cheer. country. Lloyds staff kept the pharma‐ Mandate National Coordinator accused of acting like “cold‐hearted One worker, summing up the feel‐ cies open. Lloyds staff made sure that Brian Forbes slammed Lloyds bosses misers” after a Scrooge‐like decision ings of colleagues, said: “We feel we elderly and more vulnerable cus‐ and claimed the move was an “insult” was taken to cancel Christmas bonus should be given a bonus this year tomers were looked after… Lloyds to workers. payments. more than ever.” staff got Covid. Lloyds staff deserve a He told Shopfloor: “To be encour‐ Workers are furious they will not Brian Dowling’s virtual Christmas Christmas bonus.” aged now by the company to engage in now pocket a yearly ‘thank you’ pay‐ social – including festive TikTok ‘Equitable’ TikTok fun and games with Brian ment worth between €150 to €400 videos, games of charades and bingo – Dowling instead of being paid their each. took place on November 21st for Lloyds claimed the Christmas bonus hard‐earned Christmas bonus is And it comes after months of ex‐ pharmacy staff. was withdrawn as part of a new “more traordinary efforts by Lloyds workers Not to be outdone, Mandate mem‐ transparent and equitable” monthly frankly an insult to the tireless and sig‐ to keep the pharmacies open during bers at Lloyds Pharmacy launched a bonus structure to reward employees. nificant sacrifices made by these es‐ the Covid‐19 pandemic. virtual event of their own – an online However, the claim was disputed by sential frontline workers. Workers insisted a special seasonal petition to restore the bonus. Mandate lead organiser Bill Abom “Lloyds Pharmacy bosses are prov‐ online event hosted by former Big The petition stated: “It’s been eight who insisted this did not constitute ing themselves the cold‐hearted mis‐ Brother star Brian Dowling did abso‐ months since Leo Varadkar made his part of the talks arranged to restruc‐ ers and the big bad Scrooge of the Big Brother star Brian Dowling lutely nothing to restore any feelings Covid lockdown announcement to the ture a separate bonus.