Seven Months On - Interview With Karen Shaughnessy, Debenhams Galway Shop Steward
Today, Monday 9th November, marks seven months since the beginning of the Debenhams dispute. The workers are still on the picket line, fighting for a redundancy payment of four weeks pay for every year of service, as per the agreement that was reached between Debenhams and the workers in 2016.
To mark this anniversary Éirígí activist and Mandate Trade Union member, Ian Ó Dálaigh, conducted an interview with Karen Shaughnessy, the Debenhams Galway shop steward.
Éirígí is asking members of the public to show their support for the workers in their fight for a fair settlement in any way that they can. Lobbying elected representatives, sharing content on social media, talking to friends about the dispute and visiting the picket lines, are just some of the ways that you can help. An injury to one is an injury to all!
Karen Shaughnessy (centre) on the picket line in Galway.
Q: Hi Karen, thanks for agreeing to this interview. Firstly, can you give us a bit of background to the strike?
A: On March 23rd this year, Debenhams Retail Ireland (DRIL) closed their doors (along with all non-essential retailers) due to Level 5 covid restriction. We received communication from DRIL that is closure would only be temporary and that, as soon the Government reduced the Level 5 restrictions we would open again – it would be business as usual.
On April 6th we received an email from DRIL to say that UK side of business were going to administration but the Irish part would be safe and not be involved in the administration process. However, three days later on the 9th of April, all our worlds would be turned upside down, when we received an email to say DRIL was being placed into liquidation and our jobs were gone.
Q: When and why did you decide to take industrial action?
A: We learned through the email that as DRIL was in liquidation, we would only be entitled to two weeks statutory redundancy, instead of the four weeks redundancy which we had a collective agreement with Debenhams for.
This was negotiated back in 2016 with Debenhams, Mandate (our union) and the 11 shop stewards. So, Mandate balloted all 11 stores – over 1,000 workers – who voted for industrial action, and so began our strike.
This strike is not only about us fighting for our enhanced redundancy; we are fighting for all workers around Ireland who might find themselves in our position. We the ex-Debenhams workers are calling for the implementation of the Duffy – Cahill report.
Q: Can you give us a brief timeline of how this dispute has unfolded so far?
A: Monday, November 9th, marks our seventh month on the picket line. I don’t think any of us thought we would be here this long, but here we are and we are not going anywhere. There have been a few attempts at removal of the stock from the stores by KPMG throughout the summer and early autumn, but these attempts have been blocked by the workers and our supporters.
In early September workers from the Henry Street store in Dublin and Patrick Street store in Cork occupied those stores and engaged in sit-ins. They were followed by workers from the Waterford store, who occupied their store also. On October 13th, KPMG sought a high court injunction against the workers. It came as no surprise when they were granted it, but this has only made us more defiant – we are still on the picket lines and the stock hasn’t gone anywhere.
Éirígí in Galway standing with the Debenhams workers.
Q: Can you give us your thoughts on the settlement offers made by KPMG?
A: In early September KPMG offered us on million euro, to be divided out amongst 1,000 staff. This would be based on years of service and contracted hours. For example, a full-time worker (37.5hrs contract) with 20 years' service would receive €1,924 and a part-time worker (12hr contract) with 20 years' service would receive €616.
Myself and my colleagues were absolutely disgusted with this offer. KPMG decided to remove this offer from the table, but it would never have been accepted by us the workers.
On October 30th, the 11 shop stewards and Mandate officials had a meeting with the WRC and KPMG, where KPMG put an offer on the table which was even more insulting than first one. This offer was declined.
Q: How is morale on the picket line?
A: Morale on the picket is generally great. Like most people we have our up and down days, especially as the days are darker and colder, and we are trying to keep ourselves safe during this pandemic – but we pull each other through it. It also helps that we are not on our own; we have the support from all the other stores around the country – we have become a picket family!
Q: And finally, how can people support you?
Support from the public has been amazing, whether it be words of encouragement or donations of food/coffee/tea, it really lifts our spirits. If the public can do anything to support us it would be to get in contact with their local TDs, especially FF/FG TDs, and lobby for us, to help put pressure on them for the implementation of Duffy-Cahill report.