Tesco threaten to lock out staff in Cork

The Douglas staff began an official strike today (29 April 2009) due to the company ignoring long standing agreements with their Trade Union, Mandate.
Workers said that management told them that if they go on strike today, the store would remain closed until June and they wouldn’t receive any pay until then.
Management at the store called small meetings with their staff members yesterday, which intimidated many workers in advance of today's strike.
Mandate Assistant General Secretary, Linda Tanham said, “We had some very young staff members coming to us in tears because of what was said to them at the company meetings yesterday.
"Tesco’s behaviour shows disregard for their staff members and their democratic right to protest at the erosion of their terms and conditions. Workers said they felt isolated and put under enormous stress and duress.”