Irish workers in Marks and Spencer have voted 94% in favour of industrial action. The trade union Mandate says this follows the closure of the workers' pension scheme in October without agreement.

Mandate say they have written to management, informing them that strike action will take place across 17 stores on December 7th.

It says there are also two further strike days planned before Christmas - on the 12th and 20th of December.

The union - which represents the vast majority of the 2,300 staff in the company - say management closed the workers’ defined benefit pension scheme without agreement - informing the workers that their retirement fund is a 'discretionary benefit'.

"Unlike many other defined benefit schemes, the Marks & Spencer scheme is a performing scheme and is in surplus to the tune of approximately €17 million" Mandate says.

Mandate Assistant General-Secretary Gerry Light said "While we fully recognise that some employers in the retail sector are struggling and that Marks & Spencer, like many, are operating with reduced profits, the company have given their workers absolutely no satisfactory proof that the permanent withdrawal of terms and conditions of employment is necessary or justified".

"Mandate and our members have always worked responsibly with employers struggling financially and we will continue to do so, but what we will not do is allow companies to exploit and unilaterally remove their workers’ terms and conditions of employment in the pursuit of even higher profits" he added.

Mandate say their members are concerned for all terms and conditions of employment in the future as a result of these recent actions.