MANDATE was formed two years ago through the merger of IDATU, the distributive workers' trade union, and INUVGATA, which represented bar staff and retail workers.
It represents more than 30,900 workers, many of them part time and in occupations where there are low levels of unionisation. Last year it was involved in more industrial action than any other union in the Republic.
Around 80 per cent of all strike days lost in the State during 1995 were accounted for by a three week strike by more than 6,000 Mandate members at Dunnes Stores. But the union was also involved in a four week strike at Super Valu in Tallaght, a three month strike at the Mountainview Inn in Blanchardstown and a strike at the Early Learning Centre in Cork, which is now in its fourth month.
Although the strike at Dunnes Stores ended last July, the company has failed to fully implement the Labour Court settlement terms. These include payment of back money due from September under the 3 per cent productivity clause of the PCW.
The majority of Mandate's members are women and it is currently prosecuting the largest ever equal pay claim in the private sector against Penneys Stores.