Debenhams staff won’t back down

Debenhams workers across the country staged a second round of protests yesterday ahead of a liquidation hearing that is set to take place today in the High Court.

Workers for the struggling UK-based chain are calling on the Irish Government to take action and save their jobs.

Protesting outside chains around the country, including St Patrick’s Street and Mahon Point stores yesterday morning, the workers said they are highlighting a potential “jobs carnage” throughout the retail sector.

Speaking ahead of the protests, shop steward at Debenhams St Patrick’s Street, Valerie Conlon, said: “The message of workers from these protests is that 2,000 jobs are on the line at Debenhams. That’s thousands of people and families reliant on our wages.

“The Government would be better off stepping in now, to invest to keep people employed, rather than having to pay for thousands more people going onto social welfare.”

Following the protests, which took place from 11-11.45am yesterday morning, workers took part in an e-rally organised by the Mandate trade union.

Ms Conlon said: “We believe many of the stores are profitable, as well as the online business. The Government is putting billions in to keep people employed because of Covid-19.

“There are also EU funds available to prevent redundancies. We are asking all our political representatives to ask the Government to take a stake here and invest to keep the company trading.”

Two weeks ago, Debenhams in Ireland announced that it was to go into liquidation, making close to 1,000 workers redundant and closing all 11 of its Irish stores.

In his first address in the Dáil since being elected as a TD for Cork North-Central, Thomas Gould said that if Debenhams refuses to reopen its stores, the company must guarantee workers the “redundancy they’re entitled to”.

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