Ireland: Debenhams employees accept redundancy settlement after 406 days-long picket, prompt move for changes in employment law
"Former Debenhams employees accept settlement offer", 20 May 2021
Former Debenhams employees who lost their jobs when the company's Irish operation went into liquidation over a year ago have accepted a settlement offer involving a €3 million training fund aimed at resolving their long-running dispute over redundancy payments.
Almost 1,000 workers lost their jobs in April 2020...During the bitter 406-day dispute, there were clashes between the liquidators' staff and protesters [...].
...A statement issued on behalf of "Debenhams Shop Stewards and picket line activists" continued to dismiss the offer as inadequate...The Debenhams activists criticised the Government for failing to legislate to boost workers' rights after the Vita Cortex post-liquidation occupation in 2011 and the controversial closure of Clerys in 2016...The statement[...] also criticised their union Mandate.
...However, it remains unclear what level of supports will be made available for other redundant workers in similar situations, such as the 490 former workers in the Arcadia Group including Top Shop Topman, Dorothy Perkins, Burton, Miss Selfridge, Evans and Wallis.
... [T]he Government will also be making changes to employment law...to ensure that staff receive proper notice of redundancy and clear information about their entitlements.