Workers at closed M&S shops vote for industrial action

Workers at the four Marks & Spencer shops which closed over the weekend have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action.

Earlier this month the company said that 180 jobs would be lost due to the closure of four Irish outlets, which are in Mullingar, Naas, Tallaght and Dun Laoghaire.

The company said the four shops were unprofitable and the decision to close them came following a strategic review.

Trade union Mandate today said workers were “very upset” at the company’s decision to proceed with the redundancies without attempting to explore other options.

Around 88% of Mandate members at the affected workers have now voted for industrial action, which the union says will see pickets placed on the four closed outlets from 10 September.

The union said it reserves the right to engage other Marks & Spencer shops should the issue remain unresolved.