Debenhams workers have voted to accept the offer of a €3 million training fund

Thursday, 20 May 2021 13:23

It comes after over 400 days of action for what they described as a "fair" redundancy settlement

The offer was accepted by 319 to 102 votes

In a statement issued to RedFM News Debenhams Shop Stewards and picket line activists confirmed that they have accepted the settlement offer however they say the vast majority of former staff don't see it as coming anywhere close to honouring the four weeks' pay per year's service redundancy nor an adequate reward for the struggle they have waged.

330 workers at Debenhams two stores in Cork on Patrick Street and at Mahon Point shopping centre all lost their jobs after the company announced that it was closing it's Irish stores last year. Former staff battled for a better redundancy deal and staged pickets, protests, marches, occupations and blockades right up until recent days.

Speaking to RedFM News shop steward Valerie Conlon says she has mixed emotions about the ballot outcome

"Well, it was a case that we decided to vote about it again simply because it wasn't explained to us the first time properly. It isn't as everybody knows what we were looking for, and unfortunately, we are not going to get anything better, but at 406 days, the picket has to come to an end at this stage. So we said that we would walk away with our heads held high, but we will still fight for legislation to be brought in"