Over 6,000 Dunnes Stores workers will go on strike across the country today.
The work stoppages will take place at 107 shops nationwide after 67 per cent of Mandate Trade Union's members at the company voted in favour of action.
The dispute is over what the union says is an "excessive" use of temporary contracts - and a refusal by Dunnes to negotiate over grievances.
Jobs Minister Richard Bruton is appealing for both sides to start talks:
Yesterday, the leaders of the main political parties publicly backed the Dunnes Stores workers in their dispute with the company.
Micheal Martin and Gerry Adams both attended the protests earlier:
Micheal Martin and Gerry Adams both here. "Awkward" is how a colleague's described it #Dunnes https://t.co/bZri7xUB37
— Richard Chambers (@newschambers) April 2, 2015
Taoiseach Enda Kenny today said he supports “the Dunnes workers in having a right to clarity insofar as their working lives and their working weeks are concerned.”
He went on to say he “would hope that this strike would not have to go ahead.”
The dispute centres around four issues: secure hours and earnings; job security; fair pay and the right to trade union representation. Workers have said their hours are currently too unpredictable and make it impossible to predict their earnings.
Gerry Light, Assistant General Secretary of Mandate, spoke to Newstalk Breakfast this morning about whether the pickets would be supported and the fact that they still haven't spoken to Dunnes Stores:
