Former Debenhams staff clashed with removal van workers who were trying to take stock from an Irish store yesterday.
They were back on the picket line as liquidators gave notice of their intention to take goods away from the shop in Blackrock, Dublin.
More than 30 people blocked the entrance to the Frascati Centre location so the removal truck couldn’t get in.
In a statement on Monday, the shop stewards representing the Debenhams workers called on all van and truck drivers not to pass their pickets and to not assist KPMG in removing stock.
They said: “KPMG is trying to criminalise our campaign for justice. By going to the courts and getting an injunction it thinks it can bully the workers into submission. After six months we will not allow KPMG to remove the stock.
“Keeping the stock in the shops is our only guarantee that our campaign will be successful. We are calling on all van and truck drivers not to assist KPMG and not to pass our pickets.
“We are calling on all workers to join us on our pickets and help us make KPMG’s injunction ineffective.
“The Debenhams workers are fighting for all workers as their struggle has
highlighted the terrible way workers are treated when companies go into liquidation. Like the Clery’s workers before them, they are not getting their full
entitlements.”
The shop stewards reiterated their call for talks and called on Taoiseach Micheal Martin to convene discussions involving them with the aim of reaching a just settlement of their dispute.
They said: “With the prospect of workers being jailed as a result of the actions of KPMG, the Taoiseach cannot stand idly by.
“The consequence of doing nothing is that workers who have fought for
justice through the Covid-19 crisis will end up in jail.”
KPMG told RTE they were disappointed to witness what they described as “intimidation” of their staff.
In a letter to Mandate yesterday afternoon, Andrew O’Leary wrote: “The liquidators have no issue with peaceful, lawful protesting.
“Given this, we assumed that those individuals picketing stores would conduct the pickets in line with the law. It is clear from this morning’s events that those at stores did not.
“Given these events we will not be communicating in advance when stock or packing materials are to be moved.”
