Sinn Féin Cllr Daithí Doolan has called on the new ownership of Iceland stores in Ireland to meet with staff and clarify job security, pay conditions, etc.
“Iceland stores are no longer owned by Iceland. The company changed hands on Wednesday last without any consultation with staff or management. This was unacceptable and wrong.
“Staff were told by text that they no longer worked for Iceland but were to go to work as normal the following day.”
This, claimed Cllr Doolan “is an insulting way to treat staff.” Iceland has eight stores located at Ballyfermot, Blanchardstown, Coolock, Finglas, Navan Road, Northside Shopping Centre, Talbot Street and Tallaght.
“Staff are understandably very stressed about the future of their jobs. They have families to care for, bills and mortgages to pay. “
Iceland Foods Group CEO Tarsem Dhaliwal confirmed the company had made the decision to sell their Irish interests and to focus more on Iceland’s market share in the UK.
Noting the company had grown from seven to 27 stores, and employing a large workforce, management at Iceland decided ‘to focus on retail opportunities’ and to expand their export business. Stores in the ROI will operate on similar franchise partnerships as other partnerships across Europe.
Cllr Doolan called on the new owners to clarify job security and contracts as soon as possible going forward.
“The new company must give an assurance that pay and conditions remain the same. The company must also urgently engage in face-to-face meetings with staff and give a guarantee that all jobs at all 27 stores are safe. Nothing less is acceptable for these workers in Ireland.”
