Workers at the Liffey Valley Shopping Centre have protested against new parking charges to be implemented at the centre, which they say will cost them at least €600 per year.
The shopping centre's management says the new charges are being implemented as part of developments to encourage people to switch to more sustainable modes of transport, such as public transport and active travel.
It says it recognises that some staff have no choice but to drive to work and, in recognition of this, it is offering a discounted staff rate of €2.50 per day.
Staff protesting outside the centre today said new bus routes planned for the area are not in place and the spaces being offered to them will also be available to the public.
They say the discounted daily rate could add up to parking charges of €600 per year for them and they will have to pay much more if the car park where the discounted rate is available is full.
Suzanne Redmond who works at the centre said that some days "we could pay up to €12.50 or €15.50 and there isn't enough parking spaces for the staff".
"It's like a pay cut for us," she said.
"It's like we're losing a week's wages in a year."
She claimed there are 800 spaces for 1,800 staff.
"We know we have to pay something. The girls in the Square (in Tallaght) pay €100 a year for their own spot," she said.
"We've negotiated that we're willing to pay a €100 or €150 and they just won't entertain us."
In a statement, Liffey Valley Shopping Centre Management said that these changes are "in keeping with our sustainability agenda".
"A new BusConnects interchange and new and improved lighting, walkways, and cycle lanes as well as secure cycle parking will give both retailer staff and customers more options to travel to the centre," it said.
"There has already been a significant increase in the provision of public transport services to the centre with further service increases being rolled out from Sunday 16 October and additional services being provided in early 2023, when the new BusConnects interchange is open, which will see public transport connections to the centre increase by 50%."
The shopping centre management says the workers must engage with the shops and businesses which employ them, but the workers say their bosses cannot give them a parking space.
The protesters say they will regroup tomorrow to decide how to continue their campaign against the new charges.
