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Workers at Iceland’s Talbot St store held a demonstration yesterday, drawing support for their continued occupation of the store.
The workers said that they had no intention of ending the occupation until issues such as non-payment of wages, redundancy deals, and payment of owed sick and holiday pay were resolved.
The Talbot St store was closed in June, and staff gained entry and began to occupy the store on 25 June. They have maintained a 24/7 occupation, rotating who sleeps in the store.
Donna Grimes, a worker at the store, said that the Iceland workers fight is one that affects workers across Ireland.
We thought that our jobs were safe. On the Wednesday morning when the store closed, some of the girls showed up for work, and by nine o’clock their jobs were gone
“It’s us today, but it could be anyone tomorrow, because nobody’s job is safe,” she said.
Alexander Homits, a representative of the Independent Workers’ Union, said that the union now represents half of all Iceland workers in the country, and that the workers are drawing a “line in the sand”.
Homits, who has been the main point of contact for the workers throughout the dispute, said that the union and workers had “gone on strike, organised phone and media pickets, and researched who we were up against”.
Also present was James O’Toole, a housing activist involved in recent resistance to mass evictions at Tathony House.
“It’s not just a battle in the workplace that we’re waging, we’re also waging a battle to stay in our homes” he said.
“When Alex said that the IWU and the Iceland workers were drawing a line in the sand, it reminded me of the sentiment coming out of Tathony House. Because we’re drawing a line in the sand too, it’s the same fight against the same system.”
Among those in attendance was actor Liam Cunningham, who has been vocal in his support for Iceland workers since stores initially started to close.
Iceland’s Irish operations were taken over by Metron Stores Ltd in January 2023. Since the takeover, staff began to experience issues with payment of wages, holiday and sick pay, and deteriorating working conditions.
The company entered examinership in May, and store closures were suddenly announced in June.
The High Court heard in June that Metron Stores Limited, is insolvent and unable to pay estimated debts of €36 million as they fall due.
The examiner’s initial report recommended reducing Iceland’s Irish operations from 26 down to 10 stores.
The examiner’s final court date is set for 21 August.
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They should have it taken off them because of brexit. That’ll show Britain !!
@Brendan Harlowe: They will probably have to pay tax on that win as Britain is no longer an EU member.
@John Hagin Meade: They’re doing great at the vaccinations though, but you’ll never admit that Brexit is a success.
@Brendan Harlowe:
@Brendan Harlowe: Jealousy is not a good trait.
@roscommonrebel: yeah it’s a joke mate :) calm down .
@HonestGrump: it makes my eyes green though .. which is a nice colour
@roscommonrebel: come live here (in UK) so if you think it’s such a success. Been disastrous for existing businesses large and small, farmers and fishermen. Tories had to bung another £250m to EU to retain some access to Galileo.. But other than that yeah absolutey great, running just like clockwork….
@Sea__Point: Guess you’ll be leaving there and coming back here then so
@Brendan Harlowe: Its euromillions not EU millions miserableold git
All the best to them…lucky feckerrrrs
Very very low Returns for 2-3 & 4 numbers its just another Tax on the Poor and Desperate..even unclaimed prizes are now used for Tempting us to Buy tickets instead of Benefitting the community , You would be better off saving in the Credit union and entering the Car Draw for 1 euro a week.
@Larry Rawson: yes but who was winning The Cars
@Larry Rawson: listen mate. Each to their own. I buy a line or two just to give me a week long possibility and dream and wonderment of a stress free no money worry life, and a break from this rip off country. And I also get a decent salary but it’s just a not in can’t win type thing. Each to their own
@Larry Rawson: totally agree the lower tier prizes are terrible. It would be good to have higher prizes for the other matches. I like playing the lotto. It’s a bit of fun. I’m not poor, I am not rich. I won’t be poor by playing, and I certainly will never be rich without playing. I’ll take my chances with a play for a few euros a week.
@Larry Rawson: relax Larry. Most people don’t take it seriously. A bit of hope on a Friday when you get the email is all.
@Larry Rawson: Yet someone in The UK 140m better off couldn’t give a flying mickey what your payout stats say. Car draws? Newsflash…Priests Doctors and Nuns win them. Anyways. Good Luck to that UK winner. Brilliant stuff.
@Larry Rawson: ahh jaysus Larry..people will spend €3.50 for the opportunity to be a multi millionaire.its the price of a coffee or a newspaper..an expense I personally find just as useless as you find the lotto,but each to their own and I won’t begrudge anyone those things.. .ofcourse lotto isn’t a viable model to make money..but that wouldn’t matter a jot to anyone who actually ends up winning and by god you certainly won’t hear them complain bout the unfairness of lower prizes of getting 3 4 or 5 numbers if they pull in 140 million
@Larry Rawson: What is it with bitter Larry’s?
@Larry Rawson: bet u still has the communion money tucked away
How can someone not in the EU win the Euro millions, they wanted out so they should be barred for doing the lottery it for EU citizens not part of Britix
@Larry O Reilly: Switzerland is not in EU but is in Lotto, it’s a European lotto for the geographical area no European Union.
@Larry O Reilly: it’s a lotto for Europe which Britain is a part of not a lotto based on the European Union or currency. They didn’t leave Europe, they left the European Union.
@Larry O Reilly: it’s the Euromillions, not the EU millions.
@Larry O Reilly: it’s like Australia and Eurovision
@Larry O Reilly: What is it with bitter Larry’s?
@Larry O Reilly: Simon Coveney would not even come out with such a bias statement as yours.
@Brendan Cunningham: that made chuckle.
@Larry O Reilly: Eh they wont be taken off of it anytime soon, however due to them not being a member state they may possibly get taxed on it unlike the rest of the member states
That pair who went to Dubai- throw the book at them
@Pat Andrews: allegedly their trip went tits up!
@David Van-Standen: brilliant, I wish mine would too!
Open the pubs…
@Dave McMullan: close the fridges. (Or else the good goes off and the ice melts) #lifetip
@Dave McMullan: now
@Dave McMullan: Wish they would
Roll over 18 times and only 11 million.
Give it to them in Euro
@Mogh Roith: lol or the fish from their sea
English tvvaaaaankers should not be allowed in euro lotto.
@cork rebel: don’t think it has anything to do with the Euro (despite the name) or the EU.
@cork rebel: Such a dope you are.
#add #sponsoredpost
So jealous, the yacht ,the villa, 5 star hotels, fast cars etc
Jeff Bezos makes more than that in a day.
Why would anyone go public with their win???!!!
@owentighe: good question!!!! Although people might suspect something when you start driving a Lamborghini around!!!!
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