Mandate disappointed Westport Dunnes workers failed to go on strike

Mandate disappointed Westport Dunnes workers failed to go on strike


Anton McNulty

The decision by Dunnes Stores workers in Westport not to join the official strike was ‘disappointing’ according to the local Mandate Divisional Organiser.
A large number of Dunnes Stores employees from the Ballina and Castlebar stores chose to go on strike and picketed the stores during the nationwide strike on Holy Thursday. However, employees at the smaller Westport store informed the trade union Mandate, that they would not take part.
The decision to undertake a one-day strike came after more than two thirds of Mandate’s members balloted in favour of industrial action last month.
The decision of the Westport workers was described by CiarΡn Campbell, Mandate’s Divisional Organiser for the North and West as ‘disappointing’ but ‘not surprising’ given the pressure he said some staff across the country were under.
“They [Westport store] told me a week before the strike that they had reserved their right not to come out on strike and I had not heard from them since and I assume they did not come out. In every dispute there are weaknesses and store workers decide not to follow directions. I am disappointed that is all but not surprised,” he told The Mayo News.

Full of praise
While he was disappointed with the Westport workers, Mr Campbell was full of praise for the staff of the Castlebar and Ballina stores for showing their dedication to come out and strike. He also praised the public for their support and hoped there will be progress in the coming weeks.
“We got incredible support and fair play to the public who we asked to support us and they did it in big numbers. Looking at the two Mayo stores on the day they did not get the business they would have expected to get,” he said.