Amid reports of growing discontent following the sale of Iceland supermarket chain to a new owner, employees at the Letterkenny branch are being urged to speak out against unfair working conditions.
In February, Iceland made the decision to sell all 27 of its directly owned stores in the Republic, stating that the Irish outlets would be managed under a franchise model. The sale was made to a company called The Project Point Technologies, allowing Iceland to concentrate on its operations in the UK.
However, concerns have recently surfaced regarding the treatment of staff. Employees have raised complaints about inconsistent wage payments, with some receiving only a fraction of their usual pay or missing out on wages entirely.
Four Iceland stores in Dublin, including those in Ballyfermot, Tallaght, Coolock, and Northside Shopping Centre, have already taken strike action in response to the ongoing dispute. The Independent Workers’ Union (IWU) is representing these employees.
Community activist Finnian O’Donnell intends to engage with local workers to determine if they have been affected by these developments.
Mr. O’Donnell, speaking to the Donegal News, stated, “For several months now, Iceland workers have been organizing to improve their working conditions. Stores from around the country are joining forces to stand up against the disgraceful treatment of workers. The IWU has asked me to reach out to any Iceland workers in Letterkenny and urge them to contact me if they or anyone they know works at Iceland.”
Among the concerns that have emerged are wage discrepancies, lack of air conditioning in high temperatures, absence of written job assurances, and uncertainty regarding redundancy procedures in the event of store closures.
Mr. O’Donnell plans to interact with local workers in the coming days, stating, “The union is coordinating a response, and I am working at the grassroots level as a community activist. I aim to be present and available for workers to voice their concerns to me, which I will then relay to the IWU. Workers in Letterkenny should not feel isolated in this matter.”
Alexander Homits of the IWU expressed that staff members feel disrespected and should not be subjected to such treatment, especially considering that many have dedicated their entire careers to the company.
The issue has been raised in the Dáil, with Members of Parliament urging Minister of State at the Department of Enterprise, Neale Richmond TD, to intervene and meet with the affected workers.
The Donegal News reached out to Iceland for comment on the claims but had not received a response at the time of publication.