Breaking News: Debenhams Workers Occupy Store in Waterford

Former Debenhams workers in Waterford have occupied the company's shuttered store at City Square Shopping Centre this morning (main pic).

Gardaí entered the premises and asked the workers how they had gained entrance to the building, following which the Gardaí left.

Gardaí had previously detained some former Debenhams workers, and their supporters, during protests in Dublin city.

Michelle Gavin, who worked for Debenhams in Waterford city for 27 years, said that the Gardaí told them they were trespassing.

“We just said that we wanted to bring our point to the front,” Michelle told Hot Press.

The occupiers are demanding that the Government should insist that Debenhams and the provisional liquidator of the company, KPMG, go back to the negotiating table with shop stewards and representatives of the trade union Mandate.

The workers are asking Debenhams to make proper redundancy payments to thousands of its former employees out of the profit generated by their online sales.

During April, Debenhams fired nearly 2,000 of its employees in Ireland, via email, stating that the company’s eleven stores in the Republic were “not expected to reopen” – even after the coronavirus crisis subsides.

Employees of Debenhams were made ‘redundant’ immediately before the start of a bank holiday weekend. Michelle Gavin said the fast pace of events from closure to liquidation, left them shocked and feeling helpless.

The British company subsequently moved its Irish assets to the UK, in an attempt to avoid having to make redundancy payments due to staff in the Republic.

Debenhams online store for Ireland continues to make a profit.

“The online shop was our business,” Michelle Gavin told Hot Press. “They claimed it wasn’t, but it was, and of course they can pay us with the online profits."

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

As it happens, bringing the company to heel would be in the Government’s interests – and that of the Irish taxpayer. Back in May, a former Debenhams worker in Dublin, informed Hot Press that the company has told staff to seek redundancy benefits from the State.

The Redundancy Payments Acts of 1967-2014, give a minimum entitlement to a redundancy payment for employees, who have been made redundant by a long-term employer.

The law, however, states that an employer must “act reasonably” when dismissing employees in a redundancy situation, before advising them to avail of State-funded redundancy schemes. Acting reasonably is generally understood to require employers to consult with workers before making a decision, as well as considering all alternative options.

Employees are also entitled to a minimum of two weeks’ written notice of redundancy.

Logically, therefore, the unions believe that Debenhams would be liable for unfair dismissal if challenged in court.

Michelle Gavin said, however, that the company used the ongoing coronavirus pandemic as an excuse, and to fudge its legal responsibilities.

ONGOING FOR 172 DAYS

Bank of Ireland – alongside businesses Barclays, Silver Point Capital and GoldenTree – were part-owners of Debenhams’s Irish operation.

In a previous statement to Hot Press, a spokesperson for Bank of Ireland said that as a long-term Debenhams lender they were deeply disappointed with the actions of the British company. They explained, however, that the Irish bank held a minimal number of shares in Debenhams.

Firmly committed in their quest to demand redundancy compensation, Debenhams workers have been holding vigils outside Debenhams stores – which are closed – since April, in a bid to highlight the shabby treatment meted out to them by the retain giant.

In Dublin, a picket outside the Debenhams store on Henry Street store has been in place for over three months with members of the public occasionally spending the nights with the workers in solidarity.

Margaret Sinnot, another former employee of Debenhams in Waterford, said that the strike has been ongoing for 172 days and the workers are not backing down.

“If you don’t stand up for yourself and fight, no change will ever be achieved,” Michelle Gavin said.