Workers at an Iceland store in Coolock, Co Dublin, are staging a sit-in after they were suddenly told their jobs were gone.
Staff at the Coolock branch say they got no notice the store wasn't opening this morning and arrived at work as normal.
An interim examiner was appointed to the Iceland chain of stores, which would allow the stores to operate as normal while investors are found for the business.
Despite that, there are reports that the Iceland stores in Coolock and on Talbott Street, Co Dublin, are both closed without notice.
Iceland workers in both Coolock & Talbot St arrived today to find out there jobs are going
NO NOTICE was given
Coolock workers are currently occupying the store and will not leave until there a solution is made
Come down to Iceland Coolock and show your support if you can… https://t.co/EKP5XPkrpI pic.twitter.com/ck5nZmJncH
— THE DEBENHAMS WORKERS (@DebenhamsStaff) June 21, 2023
Staff member Jeanette Joyce told Newstalk this was a complete shock to staff.
“We turned up for work as normal, arrived at 8.40am,” she said. “I met my manager sitting outside on the steps – she had been asked to leave the building and hand over her keys.
“That was the first we had heard of this – we got no notification at all that this was coming.
“Eventually at about 9.05am, an email filtered through all our colleagues that the company is insolvent and going into liquidation.”
Ms Joyce and her colleagues have been in a lock-in in the Coolock store from 9.30am this morning and are seeking clarity from the examiner about the position of their jobs.
The protestors have received support from People Before Profit and the Debenham workers among others.
21/06/2023 Dublin, Ireland. Eoin Conlan (1 year) pictured at the Iceland store in Coolock today. Staff have occupied the store in protest after they arrived to work this morning to find the store had been closed and shuttered with no notice. Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ieLabour TD Aodhán Ó Ríordáin was at the protest in Coolock – and demanded better treatment for the workers.
“The treatment of these workers by Iceland is absolutely unbelievable and outrageous,” he said
“These workers deserve a huge amount of greater treatment from their employer than what they’re receiving currently.”
Last week, the Food and Safety Authority recalled all imported frozen food of animal origin from the store due to “very serious” breaches of legislation.
Yesterday, the High Court heard that owner Metron Stores Limited, which took over the Irish franchise in February, is insolvent and unable to pay estimated debts of €36 million as they fall due.
There are 26 Iceland stories in the Republic of Ireland employing 344 people.
