POWERS Supermarkets, which owns Quinnsworth, Crazy Prices and Lifestyle stores, is to refer a decision by its 7,000 workers to reject new proposals for Sunday trading to the Labour Court.
The court had recommended that the workforce accept the proposals to reduce pay rates for Sunday working to those operating in Dunnes Stores, its main competitor.
Under the new proposals Quinnsworth staff employed before October 1994 would be paid double time for working Sundays, while new staff would receive time and a half.
Dunnes Stores operates the system of time and a half for new staff rostered to work Sundays. Many of its outlets now open regularly on Sunday.
Of the 3,127 members of the Mandate union at Quinnsworth who voted on the new proposals, only 135 agreed to accept the reduced rates for Sunday working.
The general manager of Quinnsworth, Mr Pat Moroney, said that he was "not so much disappointed at the outcome of the ballot as at Mandate's recommendation that its members reject it". The result was predictable once Mandate had made its decision.
He said the low turn out was significant. "Less than half of the staff voted. Those that didn't probably didn't want to show their disloyalty to either side."
Unlike Dunnes Stores, Quinnsworth had always recognised the union, consulted with it at the highest levels and, when agreement was not possible, had referred their differences to Labour Court, Mr Moroney said.
"The question is, why did date accept a set of proposals relation to Sunday trading Dunnes Stores and rejected similar proposals for this organisation?
The general secretary of date, Mr Owen Nutty, said decision of the members to a deterioration in their conditions was understandable.
Mandate would continue to cooperate with Dunnes Stores over Sunday working, Mr Nulty said, but the union was not happy with current arrangements.
"We've honoured the Labour Court recommendations (with Dunnes Stores) fully and to the letter. But can one be expected to continue holding up indefinitely our end of the bargain, when the company is not honouring its obligations?"
While contacts are continuing between Mandate and Dunnes Stores over the implementation of Labour Court recommendations, there are no signs of a breakthrough.