Courts / Ireland / Report
Debenhams workers win key legal battle as shop steward awarded in test case
2023-05-16
Hearing Or Decision
Summary
In a 2023 decision, the Workplace Relations Commission ruled that Debenhams Retail Ireland Ltd failed to start redundancy consultations in a timely manner, breaching the Protection of Employment Act. The commission found that the company's liquidators, Kieran Wallace and Andrew O'Leary, did not provide Mandate the union with relevant information about store profitability, online revenue, and lease arrangements. The tribunal noted that the firm's UK parent had decided to cease funding the Irish arm on 8 April 2019, and that consultations should have begun no later than 9 April, not the 17th. The adjudicating officer, Brian Dalton, determined that the employer breached sections 9 and 10 of the Act, awarding eight weeks' pay for each breach to complainant Jane Crowe, amounting to €2,280. The case was a test case for 750‑800 former staff represented by Mandate. The decision confirms that the employer's delayed and incomplete consultation was unlawful.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Debenhams workers win key legal battle as shop steward awarded in test case. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision
When:
- April 2019 Other
- April 8th Other
- April 9th Other
- 2023-05-16 Publication
Case subjects
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