Mayor of Derry Brian Tierney differs with Eason on level of worker engagement over store closure

The retailer said it appreciated the proposed closure of the store was a ‘difficult and uncertain period’ for workers and vowed it would be transparent during an ongoing consultation process.

Eason & Son (N.I.) recently proposed closing all of its stores in the north citing the devastating impact of COVID-19 and growing concerns about the likelihood of a hard Brexit.

The lease on its Foyleside store expired in April and the company believes that the outlook for its stores in the north is ‘extremely challenging and uncertain and the business is facing significant and growing losses into the future, which would be unsustainable’.

However, in a major intervention on Friday the Mayor, Brian Tierney expressed dissatisfaction with the consultation process.

“I am very concerned at the way Eason have approached this matter, and their lack of engagement with long-standing staff members who have been dedicated for many years to promoting the success of their business,” he declared.

“The Eason store in Foyleside has long been a much valued retail outlet right in the heart of our city centre, and its loss will be greatly felt by local people, particularly as the schools prepare to go back in September and also in the run up to Christmas.

“Council has in recent months pledged to uphold workers’ rights and issued a letter to local businesses setting out this Council’s support of the Workers’ Rights and Social Justice agenda and our position in relation to the right to a national living wage, supporting good terms and conditions for all employees, and opposing the practice of Zero Hours Contracts.

“As part of that commitment I am standing with the staff of Eason and supporting their call for answers at this time of great anxiety for them and their families,” said the Mayor.

He is now seeking a meet with Eason representatives ‘to discuss the matter and seek a positive way forward.’

A spokesperson for Eason & Son (N.I.) responded by stating it had ‘communicated extensively with nominated employee representatives as part of an ongoing formal employee consultation process around proposals to close all Eason & Son stores in NI.’

“We appreciate this is a difficult and uncertain period for employees and from the outset we have sought to create clarity for our Northern Ireland colleagues as soon as possible.

“We have also endeavoured to be entirely open and transparent in all our engagements around the challenges facing the business in Northern Ireland and the likely implications for employees of the measures we are proposing to take at the end of the consultation period.

“Until the consultation period is concluded we are not in a position to comment further on our discussions with employees or the outcome of the process,” the bookseller, and stationer said.