R.N.U Kildare: Boots Workers To Strike Nationwide!

by Shane Fri Nov 13, 2009 12:06

Hi Mark,

I'm glad you and your wife are happy with life as it is and you're earning enough to get by. Not everybody is in the same boat. I just want to point out a few things to you though.

Firstly, why would boots go off to another country when they can earn more profits in Ireland for their investment here than anywhere else? Here's a quote from Alliance Boots' own annual report.

“Trading profit increased by 18.4% to £45 million, mainly as a result of currency translation and strong profit growth in the Republic of Ireland, which was partially offset by lower profits in The Netherlands and Norway.”

So what they're saying here is, in case you don't get it, ROI profits offset worse performances in other countries. So how is it that they say all profits go back into investment in Ireland if they "offset" lower profits in other countries? Boots is more profitable here than almost anywhere else so they won't be leaving Ireland anythime soon.

Also, they want to expand and create more jobs, which is great. But they want that expansion at the expense of their workers. They have agreed a contract with their staff members for pay and terms and conditions. They now want to tear those contracts up? If they have contracts with landlords, would they be allowed to cut the amount they pay without agreement? I think not. But when it comes to undermining contracts of employment, you feel its a different matter? They signed up to those contracts so they should honour them. And the argument that these are difficult economic times just doesn't add up when you're making €21 million profit per year.

Lastly, is €500 per week enough to survive? I don't understand this? Who is earning that in Boots? If the new contract is established (€12 per hour was the proposal) then it is about €480 for a 40 hour week. But according to Boots' own records, they have 1,700 staff members. Yet in their audited accounts, they have 918 staff. This means they have almost all their staff on part time hours officially. So very few, if anybody, is earning €500 per week. Is that enough to survive on per week? should workers take cuts so the company can expand and pay their new staff even less all so they can "offset" lower profits elsewhere? I don't think so. If i break my contract of employment, i'd be in serious trouble. Why can't the same be said for Boots.

If they're so confident of their position, why won't they go to the Labour Court for a determination?

PS: Sorry this is so long, i just hate Irish people underselling themselves. We don't deserve to be walked all over because some Multinational wants to expand and make more profits for well off shareholders and owners!

by mark Thu Nov 12, 2009 15:56

wife has just started with boots this year and is below the 12 euro an hour.

clearly i have slightly more capitalist views than many on here. companies like Boots and Coca Cola will always seek to make large profits - that is how they became big companies in the first place. The only question is do they decide to make their large profits here or elsewhere in the world.

Is €20 million profit that much? From looking at the accounts: ( http://www.independent.ie/business/irish/boots-pretax-p....html )

They spend 40 million on staff, 160 million on stock, 64 million on selling costs and 20million on administrative expenses.

Ie they spend the best part of €300Million in ireland to make 20 million. A return on investment of less than 10%. There is little point us deciding if this is too much or not - the question for boots owners is "where else in the world can i spend 300 million a year to make more than 20 million??"

It is also fair to say that much of this €20M gets invested back in Ireland - the article in the link says €4m went on buying hogans pharmacy and they have opened several more new stores.

Is 500 euro a week enough to survive - thats a different debate altogether. It is in virtually every other EU country. Years of inflation and matching wage rises mean that sadly it may not be - it is a bit chicken and egg - if everything cost less we would be happy earning less - if we have higher wages - everything costs more. We need a solution though if we want to create jobs.

by Stabillo Boss Thu Nov 12, 2009 13:27

It is rip offs fuelled by profits not wages that trade unionists complain about.

Now tell us Mark, what is your wife's job at Boots and what is she paid? What are you paid an hour in your job? Why should a shopworker have to live on less than €546 a week (39 x €14)?

The myth of the 'sacrifice' in the private sector (as opposed to the public sector): immensely profitable companies like Boots and Coca Cola demanding cuts; profitable companies departing for even cheaper labour.

by pat c Wed Nov 11, 2009 16:17

The issues in dispute include:

· Despite Boots making record profits in Ireland, with most recent figures of €20 million profit being posted in 2008, the company are attempting to unilaterally change terms and conditions of their workers including cuts in pay;

· Boots has threatened to rip up all previous agreements protecting staff members from 17 November 2009 despite Boots management having negotiated and agreed these during 15 years of partnership with Mandate Trade Union;

· Boots management refuse to utilise state mechanisms for resolving disputes and have openly stated that they will not attend a Labour Court hearing with Mandate Trade Union.

Cuts include:

· A 15.5% wage reduction at the top scale of pay from €14.20 to €12 per hour;·
A 25% reduction in public holiday pay;· A 25% reduction in Sunday Premiums;·
Increased flexibility in weekend work for full time staff.

http://www.mandate.ie/News/Campaigns/105/boots-workers-....aspx

Existing workers who are on €10 per hour will no longer progress to €14 per hour. The latest offer from Boots is for €12 ph, in a press release Boots have said they are offering €12.75 ph but this offer has not been made to MANDATE.

Gerry Light, Assistant General Secretary of Mandate, says Boots are trying to force pay cuts of 15%, but Rhys Iley, Director of Boots Ireland, says that the claims are untrue. Listen and make your own mind up.
http://www.rte.ie/news/news1pm/player.html?20091106,264...l,209

by R.N.U Kildare Wed Nov 11, 2009 13:33

If you would like to know more about us Contact below.

Kildare Cumann : republicannetworkkildare@gmail.com

Dublin Cumann : rnudublin@gmail.com

Visit main website : www.republicannetwork.ie

by Stabillo Boss Wed Nov 11, 2009 12:11

Who are the RNU?

There's a great video about this dispute in circulation via mobile phone.

by Free Ireland - Republican Network for Unity Wed Nov 11, 2009 09:06

This is information received to us from the union representing the Boots Workers, of course these are facts, look at their website.

www.mandate.ie before slobbering about political groups supporting the working class.

by mark - none Wed Nov 11, 2009 08:25

Supporting pickets is fine as long as you are correct in your statement of the facts, My wife works for Boots and there are no pay cuts at all. Yes the top rate of pay is changing (i.e. if currently paid 10 you will only get to 12 in future rather than 14) but for those currently on 14 and indeed anyone else there is no pay cut whatsoever.

It seems in Ireland we want our cake and eat it. We complain at these comapnies for the prices being higher than UK but we support pickets to keep a maximum wage rate of €14 when the uk equivalet would be £9.

If we genuinely believe that a company shouldn't be able to choose its payrates for new people then its goodbye to ever being competitive again and goodbye to jobs for the future.