Elected representatives have shown support for Iceland workers who are in dispute with owner Naeem Maniar over unpaid wages and holiday and sick pay.
The elected representatives have called for boycotts of businesses owned by Naeem Maniar including Centz, Homesavers, Aim Cash and Carry and Brentwood Coffee.
Right2Change TD Joan Collins, Councillor Pat Dunne and Councillor Sophie Nicoullaud, Sinn Féin Councillor Larry O’Toole, and People Before Profit TD Paul Murphy were among those to show their support an event in Dublin earlier today.
Other elected representatives such as TDs Richard Boyd Barrett, Thomas Pringle, Catherine Connolly, and Mick Barry have shown their support for the workers, along with Dublin Councillors Nial Ring, John Lyons, Cieran Perry and Vincent Jackson those showing support for Iceland’s staff.
Joan Collins said “we will be organising future actions to support the workers in their own communities. We cannot stand by and watch this wage theft.”
Paul Murphy said “it is scandalous that Naeem Maniar can simply walk off, leaving workers owed thousands of euros in unpaid wages. The public should send him a clear message to pay what he owes by boycotting his other stores, including Centz, Homesavers and Brentwood Coffee.”
A statement from the group said “Maniar’s exploitation of workers has been repeatedly reported by the union representing the Iceland workers, the Independent Worker’s Union.”
“This exploitation includes unpaid wages, unfair dismissals and a total absence of the dignity all workers deserve. The treatment of Iceland workers has been callous and unjust and from both Maniar and the State institutions which have stood by and allowed these abuses to take place.”
Iceland went into examinership in mid-June, leaving workers without payment and leading them to stage sit-ins at shops.
The statement said “we as elected representatives are supporting this boycott – if Government will not take the necessary steps to protect Iceland workers, we will.”
“For many workers the cost-of-living crisis is continuing and deepening. We have seen the skyrocketing of rents, mortgages, energy and petrol prices, inflation, and the cost of basic daily goods. The crisis has affected those least able to deal with it the worst. As is always the case, the precariousness created by the crisis has been used as opportunity for some employers to squeeze workers further,” they said.