Workers at Ireland’s biggest chain of supermarkets, Tesco, have agreed to a new pay deal, averting a repeat of the strike action that closed all 76 of the company’s stores last month.
A secret ballot by members of Mandate and SIPTU resulted in a Labour Court recommendation put forward earlier this month being accepted by the 8,000 shop workers.
Over 70 per cent of the membership of both unions voted in favour of pay increases of between six and 17 per cent. It was also agreed that from March of next year, under 18s would enter the pay scale at the same rate as other employees.
"This puts pay in line with some of the other retailers in the grocery business," said Mr Gerry Light, Divisional Organiser with Mandate.
"It is gratifying to know that we have now achieved one rate for workers across the country for the first time ever," Mr Light added.