22 February 2016
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie
Sinn Féin’s Jonathan O’Brien TD has expressed his deep concern at efforts by Tesco to cut the wages of long serving staff members; this includes workers who have been employed by the company for 20 years.
SInn Fein TD in Cork North Central Jonathan O’Brien
After speaking to some Tesco workers workers today, Deputy O’Brien said:
“Tesco Ireland is one of the most profitable companies in the State. It is unacceptable that it should be seeking to reduce the pay and terms and conditions of its long term and most loyal employees.
“Workers, like some of those in Cork with decades of service, are being asked to accept a cut in pay and a substantial cut in hours. This is sharp practice and another example of an extremely profitable company rowing back on workers’ pay and rights.
“This government has failed to legislate to protect workers, especially low paid workers. It uses words like competitiveness, flexibility and attractiveness to justify exploitation and a growing low wage economy.
“Its claims of a recovery stand exposed, but it is a two tier recovery built on the exploitation of low paid workers, the extension of zero hour contracts, and the refusal to recognise the right of trade unions to negotiate and represent large amounts of workers.
