Superquinn bonus cut prompts union criticism

A trade union representing workers in Superquinn supermarkets says management has announced Christmas bonuses will be reduced by 30 per cent.

Mandate's assistant general secretary, Gerry Light, claimed the company was compelling workers to take a smaller bonus in the form of Superclub points this year instead of in cash.

He claimed the company was using the current economic crisis to erode employee's terms and conditions.

"This is a real 'superscrooge' move on behalf of Superquinn. The Christmas bonus has always been productivity based and not a discretionary concession," he said.

"The lack of consultation with the staff representatives is a very worrying precedent for Mandate. This is a mischievous attempt to railroad measures on staff without any regard for existing procedures."

Mr Light said Mandate represented the majority of 3000 workers. Others are represented by Siptu and BFAWU, the Bakers, Food and Allied Workers Union.

"This is a much larger issue than a 30 per cent reduction in the employees Christmas bonus. This is the first time that the current owners of Superquinn have decided to ignore the responsible partnership arrangements put in place by the company and the trade unions over the past three years."

He said partnership between the unions and Superquinn had resulted in over €10 million of savings in recent years, principally through the reduction of staff numbers by over 500.

"Superquinn staff have maintained their part of the agreement by being flexible and behaving in a responsible manner. All we're asking is that the company behave in the same way and honour the traditional Christmas bonus afforded for working in partnership with the company.

"To tell Superquinn staff that their Christmas bonus is going to be cut by 30% with only three weeks till Christmas is unforgivable. We're talking about some very low paid workers who need every euro they can get this year and they haven't had the opportunity, or indeed the ability to save all year for this eventuality.

These people, some of whom have been scrimping and saving all year, were relying on that bonus to ensure they have a comfortable Christmas for them and their families during the most expensive period of the year."