Ex-Debenhams Workers Vote to Accept €3 Million Training Fund.

Thursday, 20 May 2021 13:25

It brings to an end a 406 day dispute.

Former Debenhams workers have voted to accept the offer of a three million euro training fund.

Debenhams announced the end of its Irish operations last April with the loss of around 1,200 jobs, including 106 in Newbridge.

Ex-staff say the moment has come to end the industrial dispute which has gone on for 406 days - however say it is not an adequate reward for the stuggle they waged.

The training fund was originally offered in December following recommendations by mediator Kevin Foley.

Vote on the €3M Solas “training fund”
The result are
No = 102
Yes = 319
Blank = 1
Overall = 422

Press release to follow #SupportDebenhamsWorkers #Debenhams #Dublin #StrikingIsNotACrime #DontPassDebenhamsPicket #Cork #Limerick #KPMG #Ireland #Belfast #NorthernIreland pic.twitter.com/73552WE5j0
— THE DEBENHAMS WORKERS (@DebenhamsStaff) May 20, 2021

In a statement, ex-Debenhams workers say "Principal blame lies with the government which did not legislate after the Vita Cortex occupation in 2011 nor the Clerys redundancies in 2016 which gave rise to the still unimplemented recommendations of the Duffy Cahill report. They cynically expressed sympathy and ultimately drew us into a process whose recommendation for a training fund bore no relation to the actual discussions we had with the chairperson and the liquidator."

Former Debenhams worker and shop steward Valerie Conlan says there are very mixed views on the offer accepted today:

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