SIPTU representatives support Cork and Wexford members protesting outside pharmacies
SIPTU representatives supported protests by workers at Roches Pharmacy, Gorey, Co. Wexford and Crowley's Pharmacy in Cork city.
Staff decided to protest outside the store to highlight their frustration with the management’s refusal to negotiate with their union, SIPTU. The protests took place in Gorey on Tuesday (5th March) and in Cork on Thursday (7th March).
SIPTU Organiser, Graham Macken, said: "SIPTU is organising workers in these pharmacies and the 58 others throughout the country which operate within the Uniphar Retail Services Group. The company has so far refused to recognise SIPTU for collective negotiations and has continued to implement unilateral changes to employees’ terms and conditions.”
He added: “The union has not balloted its members throughout the group of pharmacies for industrial action as yet, pending the outcome of proximity talks with management which are due to reconvene at the beginning of April in regards to O’Sullivan’s Pharmacy in Bantry, Co. Cork.
"The company has continued to unilaterally implement new contracts of employment which contain an unacceptable clause stipulating that change can be implemented in line with business needs, which will invariably render void any agreed terms and conditions. The company also continues to make unlawful deductions from workers' pay despite a number of Rights Commissioner rulings that this is in breach of the Payment of Wages Act. The reductions in salary have left some employees literally on the bread line.”
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