Argos has announced they are closing all their Irish stores, resulting in almost 600 job losses across it’s thirty four stores here.
In their most recent accounts the company said sales had fallen by 21.5% last year, while Brexit is also thought to have impacted their business in Ireland.
The retailer is to close all of their Irish outlets by the end of June.The British retailer opened their first shop in Ireland in 1996.
Their Northern Ireland stores are not impacted. The Mandate Trade Union has expressed its disappointment at Argos’s decision to close all of its outlets in Ireland.
Mandate official, Michael Meegan, said that the union will be engaging intensively with the company to get the best possible deal for the workers who are being made redundant.
“Today is a difficult one for Argos’s staff here in Ireland as they get the news that the company will be closing down here. Because Argos is shutting down its complete operation in Ireland this amounts to a collective redundancy which requires a 30-day consultation period and we know the company intends to honour that obligation to engage. We will be using this period to negotiate the best possible terms for those who are losing their jobs and we are expecting a constructive response from the company,” Michael Meegan concluded.
Sinn Féin spokesperson on Enterprise, Trade, Employment and Workers’ Rights, Louise O’Reilly TD, has said news that Argos is to close its operations in the State is a “huge blow for the workers” and called for the government to do all they can to save the over 400 jobs.
“As it is the company’s intention to shut down its complete operations this amounts to a collective redundancy which requires a 30-day consultation period.
“It is essential that the company engage quickly and in good faith with the workers trade union, Mandate, during this period.
“Throughout this 30-day period the Minister for Enterprise, Trade, and Employment must meet with Argos and Mandate to see if there is any prospect to save the jobs, and failing that, he must ensure the company engages with Mandate so the best possible redundancy deal can be achieved for the workers.
“Additionally, the Retail Forum must meet as a matter of urgency to see if there is any possibility of the workers being reemployed elsewhere.
