MARKS and Spencer has reached agreement with the Mandate trade union on new terms for Sunday working. Under the agreement all employees will be paid double time for working normal Sundays and treble time for the traditional pre Christmas Sundays.
Mandate members voted by 94 per cent to accept the terms, which are the best so far negotiated with a major retailer in the Republic on Sunday trading.
Earlier this year, Mandate members at
Quinnsworth and Crazy Prices overwhelmingly rejected a deal that would have seen existing staff paid double time for normal Sunday working but only time and a half for new staff, who would be rostered to work Sundays as part of their regular roster.
A spokesman for Marks and Spencer said yesterday that the company would be expanding its Irish operations with the opening of a new Grafton Street store in Dublin from September and the expansion of its other outlets in Dublin and Cork. Sunday working would be voluntary for existing staff, but new recruits would be rostered to work Sundays. The company and the union have also agreed a minimum 15 hour weekly contract.