Welcome Christmas present for Dunnes Stores staff as they win 10% pay rise

Almost 10,000 workers in Dunnes Stores secured a 10% increase in their pay just before Christmas, after the company conceded a claim from members of Mandate Trade Union.

Mandate lodged the claim with the company in March 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic.

The company originally awarded the 10% pay increase as a temporary measure, but following what was described as a "relentless" campaign by Mandate members in Dunnes, it has now been consolidated into pay, meaning it is reckonable for pension and annual leave purposes.

The temporary staff discount of 20% has also been extended by the Dunnes workers indefinitely, according to reports.

On Thursday last Cathy McLoughlin, a Dunnes worker from Dundalk, and member of Mandate's Dunnes National Committee, said: "We are delighted to see the 10% in our payslips this morning, it'll make such a big difference for all of us.

"I know lots of my colleagues are struggling to pay bills after rent and house price increases, along with fuel increases. So this is a very welcome Christmas present for them."

Ms McLoughlin urged all Dunnes workers to join the campaign for further improvements to pay and benefits in Dunnes: "This pay increase wasn't just handed to us from nowhere. We had to fight for it, and we've gotten our just reward.

"Imagine what we could do if we have even more members and activists in Dunnes. I'm urging all my colleagues to join Mandate Trade Union today," she commented.

Mandate described it as a significant win, with the union's Assistant General Secretary Jonathan Hogan saying it was testament to "our activists and members in Dunnes who have pushed this campaign" for more than 18 months.

"Earlier this year, the Dunnes workers launched a petition signed by more than 2,500 of their colleagues calling on the company to make their 10% Covid Premium and 20% staff discount permanent.

"Then they held a protest outside Head Office to raise awareness of the campaign. Following this customers launched their own petition signed by more than 7,500 in support of the workers. Now all of their activities have come to fruition and we couldn't be prouder of them," said Mr Hogan.