Staff sign on for dole

THE thousands of Dunnes Stores workers who went on strike yesterday signed on at their local labour exchange on the advice of their trade unions.

The unions are expecting that the workers will be allowed dole payments just as they were during a three week dispute last year. They will also receive £50 a week strike pay from the union.

Normally, a striking worker is not eligible for dole payments. However, in the Dunnes Stores dispute last summer, two successful test cases were taken. It was argued the workers were entitled to payments under provisions whereby dole could be paid if "the conduct of the applicant or a trade union acting on his behalf was reasonable" and where the employer was not willing "to avail of the services normally availed of in the interests of good industrial relations".