Re instate Joanne Delaney Now

Issued : Thursday 2 February, 2006

22 year old Joanne Delaney was sacked by Dunnes stores in November 2005 for wearing her union badge on her uniform. With more than four years service in the Ashleaf store in Crumlin on the south side of Dublin, the MANDATE shop steward received a letter on the 29th of November 2005 informing her that she had been dismissed by the company.

Denied Union Representation
Dunnes Stores has accused Joanne of not complying with company policy in relation to the wearing of her union badge on her uniform, despite the fact that there is nothing in the policy about wearing a union badge. Joanne had been suspended by a manager at the store since 18th October for refusing to remove the Mandate Trade Union badge from her uniform. Joanne was advised to attend a disciplinary meeting at 6.00p.m. on Friday, 21st October .

However, the meeting was cancelled due to the fact that she was accompanied by her Union Representative. The Company has continually denied Joanne the right to Union representation at meetings with management.

International Pressure in support of Joanne
International pressure on Dunnes is growing with thousands of emails coming in across the globe protesting against their unfair practices. Motions have been tabled in the House of Commons and the Scottish Parliament condemning their actions.

Dunnes and Apartheid
Dunnes has a track record of outrageous industrial relations problems. In 1984 Dunnes workers in Henry Street had to go on strike simply to support a colleague who had been sacked for making a stand against Apartheid and the handling of South African goods. The strike only ended when Labour in government took a leading role in the international campaign against Apartheid by banning all South African imports.

Re-instate Joanne Delaney Now
Labour Youth is calling on Dunnes to immediately re-instate Joanne Delaney and to respect the rights of all their employees to wear union badges as is common practice in other supermarkets and stores.

Social Partnership is dead
This recent action by Dunnes is further evidence that the social partnership process in Ireland is now dead. Time after time, whether it be in Irish Ferries, GAMA or Dunnes - workers and union members are on the receiving end of management tactics to undermine their pay and working conditions.

What you can do to support Joanne:
-Ring Dunnes management and complain: Head Office 01 611 2100 -or better still drop into your local store and ask for the manager and make a complaint.
-Get a motion passed by your trade union branch, residents association or community group in support of Joanne and send a copy to Dunnes Stores.