8 June 2000 Edition
Aldi sacks five
Five members of MANDATE were sacked by management at the Aldi store in Dublin as a dispute over union recognition intensified this week. MANDATE members placed pickets on the supermarket following the refusal of Aldi management to recognise the union at the supermarket store.
Workers had sought to negotiate with management on promised bonus payments and other issues. Aldi refused to negotiate and then when the workers joined MANDATE, the company refused to recognise the union.
The company recognises and negotiates with unions in Germany and Denmark, where it has a substantial presence in the retail market. However in Ireland, Aldi has so far been able to take advantage of our lax laws on union recognition.
Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Nicky Kehoe said in a statement to An Phoblacht: ``It is ironic that in the same week the EU is trying to promote a charter of rights that includes the right to join a trade union and have it recognised by employers, those very rights are being shamefully abused by a German company based in Dublin.''
Aldi is a low price high volume retailer and depends on high customer numbers to make profits. The strike is clearly affecting business in the store.
Workers had sought to negotiate with management on promised bonus payments and other issues. Aldi refused to negotiate and then when the workers joined MANDATE, the company refused to recognise the union.
The company recognises and negotiates with unions in Germany and Denmark, where it has a substantial presence in the retail market. However in Ireland, Aldi has so far been able to take advantage of our lax laws on union recognition.
Sinn Féin Dublin City Councillor Nicky Kehoe said in a statement to An Phoblacht: ``It is ironic that in the same week the EU is trying to promote a charter of rights that includes the right to join a trade union and have it recognised by employers, those very rights are being shamefully abused by a German company based in Dublin.''
Aldi is a low price high volume retailer and depends on high customer numbers to make profits. The strike is clearly affecting business in the store.