The dispute between some workers and the management of the grocery discount store Aldi in Dublin is continuing after six weeks, despite a ruling by a Rights Commissioner. The trade union, Mandate, which is representing the workers at the Parnell Street branch, has stated that three staff members had been sacked as a result of taking strike action.
The Rights Commissioner's view was that initial pay slips were insufficiently clear and required an explanation to staff.
Mandate claimed that the commissioner ordered Aldi to pay £420 each to the three staff who made the complaint under the Payments of Wages Act. The three then decided to take strike action and had been sacked, it claimed.
Yesterday, the company said that it accepted the Rights Commissioner's view that initial pay slips were insufficiently clear and required explanation to staff. On receipt of employee queries, prior to the involvement of the Commissioner, Aldi took swift action to respond, it stated.
A company spokeswoman denied that the three had been fired for joining a union. She said that they were dismissed for not complying with their contracts.
She said that Aldi had no plans to negotiate as it was within its rights to terminate an employee's contract. Aldi did not recognise unions, she said.