Last week computer games firm GAME closed all of its stores
in the 26 counties and walked away from its 121 Irish staff refusing to pay
them their redundancy entitlements.
The workers immediately occupied all of the stores and began
a sit-in protest.
My colleagues in the Dáil Seán Crowe TD and Caoimhghín Ó
Caoláin TD managed to secure a debate in the Dáil on the issue and a delegation
of workers came in to watch the debate.
Unfortunately all we got from the government was words of
regret and very little action.
Yesterday I called in to my local GAME store in Dundrum Town
Centre to meet the workers who are occupying the store and to offer my support
and solidarity.
The man I met there was a very impressive person. He told me that he understood that the fight
he is involved in is about more than the GAME workers. He has friends working in other retail
outlets and he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t challenge a system that
could see them also lose their redundancy packages and possibly their homes.
If GAME handed him all he is entitled to tomorrow there is
no guarantee that the next company to close its doors will not walk away from
its staff in a similar manner. It is the
system that allows this to happen that needs to be challenged.
I applaud this stance and the stance of the Vita Cortex
workers in Cork, La Senza staff and others who have and still are fighting for
their rights as workers.
The government has been very quiet on this issue. We need to see strong words of condemnation
of GAME from the government followed by legislation to ensure the rights of
workers cannot be trampled on anymore.
Proper notice of redundancy and a fair redundancy package
are basic rights for workers upon whom these companies depended on to make
their massive profits during the boom years.
The GAME workers can be followed on twitter at @GameIREfight
or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GameIrelandFight
Please show your support.
The GAME store in Dundrum Town Centre yesterday with its shutters down as workers occupy the store.
