More than 2,500 Dunnes Stores workers have signed a petition calling on the company to make their temporary 10% Covid-19 payment and 20% staff bonus permanent.
Last year, workers in Dunnes successfully campaigned for the temporary measures to be put in place as recognition for their hard work and the risks to their health and safety during the pandemic.
A member of staff from the Dundalk branch said: "We haven't had a pay increase since 2019 but we've had a temporary 10% allowance added to our pay last year. That isn't factored into our pensions or if we go on holidays we lose out.
"We think, after the last 18 months of working very hard through a deadly pandemic, that the least Dunnes can do is recognise our efforts by making these changes permanent."
A member of staff from the Ongar branch said: "Grocery sales have been exceptionally busy since the pandemic and we've seen reports of most retailers having an extra 17% of spending. We've been dealing with more customers and processing more goods. We know that Dunnes can afford this and we feel we deserve it after all we've been through."
A number of workers from Dunnes Stores will present the signatures of the 2,500 workers to management in Head Office on George's Street at 1pm today.
The petition reads: "We, the undersigned staff working in Dunnes Stores, call on you to make the 10% pay rise and 20% discount card permanent. We worked hard keeping Dunnes Stores running and serving our communities through Covid-19. We feel this is something we have earned."
