Ireland: Sacked for wearing a union badge
Joanne Delaney, a Mandate shop Steward in the Ashleaf shopping centre was dismissed by Dunnes Stores for wearing a union badge. Pat Waine from The Socialist Party in Ireland spoke to Joanne recently.Pat Waine: Tell us about why you were sacked?
Joanne Delaney: I was a flexi worker at Dunnes Stores in the Ashleaf for a number of years. I was elected as shop steward by the staff in the Ashleaf and I was reasonably successful in recruiting a number of workers into the union (Mandate). On 18 October last I was approached by Louis Nally (drapery manager) and told to remove a union badge from my uniform. I refused to do this and was told that disciplinary action would be taken against me. They asked me to attend a disciplinary meeting on 21 October. I attended this meeting with my trade union official and was told that there was no problem and that I should return to work. I returned to work that day. The next day I was approached by Louis Nally and instructed to remove my union badge. I refused again. He stated that he had no alternative but to suspend me indefinitely and that the company would be in touch.
PW: What did Mandate do?
JD: They wrote to Dunnes and opposed my suspension. I heard nothing until six weeks later when I was asked to attend an informal meeting with my manager. My sister Gillian attended with me as a witness. The meeting went nowhere and we left when the manager started getting annoyed. On 29 November I received a letter dismissing me and quoting as a reason ” refusal to comply with a reasonable direction of the company to remove an emblem from their uniform” and failure to “comply with the company?s uniform policy.” Mandate have begun to process an unfair dismissal case and have had the matter raised in the Dail and tried to make the public more aware through the local radio stations and local newspapers.
PW: Your case is as an example of what is happening in Ireland generally, how do you see it?
JD: Yes, I agree. Anyone who stands up to be counted is victimised by management these days. I believe that workers need to organise and fight back.
PW: A support group has been set up how do you see their role?
JD: The support group will provide the backing locally and will help in making the general public more aware of what has gone on in my case. I am delighted with the support.
This as a very important dispute, and the trade union movement needs to put its full weight behind Joanne in her fight. It is not acceptable that any company gets away with sacking a worker for union membership. The Socialist Party believes that Mandate should hold meetings with its members in all Dunnes Stores nationally to discuss what solidarity action they can take, including industrial action to force Dunnes management to re-instate Joanne with compensation.
See also the Labourstart on line campaign
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