Is Dunnes in Gorey closing down?

ITDept

Heard a rumour that Dunnes in Gorey SC is closing down for good at 10:00 tonight. Only a rumour but there you go. Anyone got any insider knowledge?

Par72

ITDept wrote: »

Heard a rumour that Dunnes in Gorey SC is closing down for good at 10:00 tonight. Only a rumour but there you go. Anyone got any insider knowledge?

Yeah apparently it is true and it's going to be on the news tonight.

ITDept

http://www.rte.ie/news/2015/0521/702878-dunnes-stores-gorey/

Shameful way to treat their staff - not giving them any notice etc. Then again Dunnes aren't exactly known for being great to their staff.

You'd have to ask the planners who allowed a large Tesco to open next door what they thought was going to happen here.

sjb25

Looks like it was in there today bit of a shocker so fast like that

jpb1974

Fairly shocking news alright, had a cousin working in there. It'll totally kill that shopping centre now, very little else in there really.

vicwatson

Ya cant be doin that lads ffs.

Wanderer78

dreadful news. this kind of treatment to workers has got to stop.

road_high

How many large superstores could a town like Gorey support? I'm not that surprised, especially with the massive new tesco opening, not to mention lots of other options nearby in Arklow and enniscorthy. Just very bad planning if you ask me.

smellslikeshoes

Have never been a fan of the parking for the shopping center, would sooner go to the Tescos over Dunnes for the handier parking alone. Shopping center is finished now I guess, was already in serious trouble before this.

hdowney

There's talk of the Arklow Dunnes closing too. And apparently part of the Newtown one has too (homewares and stuff)

tritriagain

All down to bad planning . from new ross and we used to have 2 supermarkets in town now we have 5 and the town centre has had the heart taken from it.

sjb25

All locked up shopping centre dead aswell few staff still around in uniform and all bad so it is

Marhay70

By all accounts Dunnes in Gorey was trading well and the reason behind the closure is a dispute with the Centre owners. Either way, a disgraceful way to treat people but that's what we've come to expect from Dunnes.
It's almost a mirror image of how government in Ireland treats citizens.

jpb1974

Ya, I also heard this morning this is to do with a dispute with the shopping centre, something to do with parking.

Larbre34

jpb1974 wrote: »

Ya, I also heard this morning this is to do with a dispute with the shopping centre, something to do with parking.

You may be sure this will be resolved. There is no centre without Dunnes and owners/investors are not suicidal. Ryanair tactics will win out

kneemos

According to newstalk this morning Dunnes opened a new entrance to the car park which by-passed the other shops in the centre,all of which are apparently not pleased about the drop in footfall.
Dunnes apparently have a reputation for litigation and digging in,so it may turn out to be a saga.

Not familiar with the place so only repeating what was said.

sjb25

kneemos wrote: »

According to newstalk this morning Dunnes opened a new entrance to the car park which by-passed the other shops in the centre,all of which are apparently not pleased about the drop in footfall.
Dunnes apparently have a reputation for litigation and digging in,so it may turn out to be a saga.

Not familiar with the place so only repeating what was said.

They did open a new door to the outside carpark recently so it's possible

Tesco in gorey will be delighted the place was jammers around 1 when I was there

Marhay70

kneemos wrote: »

According to newstalk this morning Dunnes opened a new entrance to the car park which by-passed the other shops in the centre,all of which are apparently not pleased about the drop in footfall.
Dunnes apparently have a reputation for litigation and digging in,so it may turn out to be a saga.

Not familiar with the place so only repeating what was said.

I think you mean a new entrance to the store. That entrance has always been there AFAIK but just never used. While it may seem reasonable in the eyes of Dunnes Stores to take that approach it is totally unreasonable to drag their staff and customers into the issue. Do they think they are invincible; people are already pi**ed off with them over the recent strike and this type of thing only drives custom away.

sjb25

http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/injunction-forcing-dunnes-to-block-access-to-surface-car-park-led-to-shock-closure-31244587.html

Centre management got injunction in court to shut the door so dunnes management are now having a hissy fit and closing the whole store don't really make spence at all on a friday dunnes would be losing a fortune today why would they
It's all a bit crazy

kneemos

sjb25 wrote: »

http://www.wexfordpeople.ie/news/injunction-forcing-dunnes-to-block-access-to-surėface-car-park-led-to-shock-closure-31244587.html

Centre management got injunction in court to shut the door so dunnes management are now having a hissy fit and closing the whole store don't really make spence at all on a friday dunnes would be losing a fortune today why would they
It's all a bit crazy

They were taking out perishable goods this morning as well apparently.
So probably not expecting an immediate solution.

smellslikeshoes

I'd say the injunction was just the straw that broke the camels back, if they were doing good business they wouldn't have used the nuclear option in a dispute over a door.

Marhay70

I don't think any of the smaller shops followed the same trading hours as Dunnes except maybe for Fridays, Dunnes may have been pi**ed at having to foot the bill for security for the whole mall. I don't buy the argument of not trading well as anytime I've been in there it's been busy.
I reckon this is just a blunt instrument to beat the smaller traders with, they can't survive without Dunnes and Dunnes know that so whether Dunnes are allowed the new entrance or not, the small guys are gone.

vicwatson

Dunnes are stuck in the 80's when it comes to industrial relations, they just love a good court fight, meanwhile the staff are left high and flippin' dry !

holyhead

Very disingenuous of Dunnes to try and have their customers bypass all the other tenants in the SC. I mean if they entered a SC which was layed out to channel customers a certain path then why change the rules. I imagine Dunnes were doing a strong trade. I appreciate we are in the era of convenience but still. I think Tesco tried for an external entrance for their store in the Golden Island SC in Athlone but this was turned down in view of the negative effect on the other tenants in the SC.

Mylow

Marhay70 wrote: »

I don't think any of the smaller shops followed the same trading hours as Dunnes except maybe for Fridays, Dunnes may have been pi**ed at having to foot the bill for security for the whole mall. I don't buy the argument of not trading well as anytime I've been in there it's been busy.
I reckon this is just a blunt instrument to beat the smaller traders with, they can't survive without Dunnes and Dunnes know that so whether Dunnes are allowed the new entrance or not, the small guys are gone.

I don't think you realise how shopping centre management works. You pay maintenance (cleaning, security etc) charge is based upon sq footage, it has absolutely nothing to do with the hours you open. The reason the shops probably close early is there staff cost are more than likely than the profit shop takings for that period. The shopping centre will have core hours they expect the shops to open.

I advised someone to have a clause put into their tenancy agreement that if the anchor tenant was to pull out that the shopping centre they could also end the lease. I certainly wouldn't be in any rush to rent a premises in a shopping centre where Dunnes are the sole anchor tenant.

I feel sorry for the staff and the tenants of the shopping centre, most independent retail shops just don't have deep enough pockets to sustain this type of behaviour.

The centre is in the hands of a receiver and is being sold. This is all a negotiating ploy by Dunnes. They may wish to buy the centre themselves (cheap!) or they may wish to cement current access arrangements with the new owner. Either way, a shopping centre in a provincial town without an anchor tenant is worth a lot less to a potential purchaser than with the anchor.

Dunnes are in a strong position here but it would serve them right if somebody else (the germans?) came in and took it from under their noses....

ccdust

Marhay70 wrote: »

I don't buy the argument of not trading well as anytime I've been in there it's been busy.

There is never anyone in there when i'm there, I couldn't believe it stayed open for so long, even on Christmas week it's dead in there.

Marhay70

Mylow wrote: »

I don't think you realise how shopping centre management works. You pay maintenance (cleaning, security etc) charge is based upon sq footage, it has absolutely nothing to do with the hours you open. The reason the shops probably close early is there staff cost are more than likely than the profit shop takings for that period. The shopping centre will have core hours they expect the shops to open.

I advised someone to have a clause put into their tenancy agreement that if the anchor tenant was to pull out that the shopping centre they could also end the lease. I certainly wouldn't be in any rush to rent a premises in a shopping centre where Dunnes are the sole anchor tenant.

I feel sorry for the staff and the tenants of the shopping centre, most independent retail shops just don't have deep enough pockets to sustain this type of behaviour.

Certainly I don't have experience of this centre but in my experience only perimeter security was included after normal hours and traders who wished to trade longer hours made their own arrangements.
As it stood in Gorey, there was no entry permitted to the underground car park after normal shopping hours, this AFAIK was to prevent access to the back of the mall, the rear entrance to the mall was also locked after that time. If security was a package deal regardless of trading hours, then why this restriction?

ccdust

Marhay70 wrote: »

Certainly I don't have experience of this centre but in my experience only perimeter security was included after normal hours and traders who wished to trade longer hours made their own arrangements.
As it stood in Gorey, there was no entry permitted to the underground car park after normal shopping hours, this AFAIK was to prevent access to the back of the mall, the rear entrance to the mall was also locked after that time. If security was a package deal regardless of trading hours, then why this restriction?

It's a tiny little shopping centre and it would make no sense to have the underground car park and back door closed after normal trading hours when it's easier and faster to access it if you park outside the front.

Nokia6230i

In Fairgreen S.C. in Carlow, Tesco use a separate entrance/exit for after hours (they open 7am-12 Midnight 6 Days & 8am-10pm Sundays) but it's shut & locked during normal trading hours where shops in the centre're only open til 6pm Saturday through Wednesday & til 9 on Thursdays & Fridays.

Why can't Dunnes & Management use this logic to resolve the issue?

Nokia6230i

Nokia6230i wrote: »

Why can't Dunnes & Management use this logic to resolve the issue?

Dunnes are being very logical here, although brutal as well. This is a clear message to any new owner that the value in this premises is not the bricks and mortar but the fact of having Dunnes as anchor tenant.

I presume that their lease has expired or is about to. It may be that Dunnes might wish to buy the premises themselves, though it does seem suboptimal for them.

Larbre34

Nokia6230i wrote: »

In Fairgreen S.C. in Carlow, Tesco use a separate entrance/exit for after hours (they open 7am-12 Midnight 6 Days & 8am-10pm Sundays) but it's shut & locked during normal trading hours where shops in the centre're only open til 6pm Saturday through Wednesday & til 9 on Thursdays & Fridays.

Why can't Dunnes & Management use this logic to resolve the issue?

Dunnes themselves do this in the Blanchardstown Centre, where their supermarket is open up to midnight. A door was constructed for the purpose, which remains locked while the rest of the Centre is trading.

delahuntv

vicwatson wrote: »

Dunnes are stuck in the 80's when it comes to industrial relations, they just love a good court fight, meanwhile the staff are left high and flippin' dry !

I never understand this type of comment - usually its a "union" comment rarely based on fact. Remember Dunnes (as is their right) do not recognise unions (similar policy to Ryanair).

Usual troublemakers that you get in every workforce want more than they signed up for. (Again - don;t believe the union word of zero hour contracts - there are no zero hour contracts)

In the gorey case ALL workers are woring their normal shifts (rostrers created a month in advance) and they have been told there will be no immediate change in their hours.


Today the high court has put a stay on the injunction for 2 months, so looks like the store will re-open.

Again mandate say they don't know if the store will re-open. Of course they don't, Dunnes will never ever go through a union, so the unon again tries to create uncertainty when there is none.

I don;t shop in dunnes - but I have my own reason for that - but I despise union bully tactics more than I despise dunnes!

kneemos

delahuntv wrote: »

I never understand this type of comment - usually its a "union" comment rarely based on fact. Remember Dunnes (as is their right) do not recognise unions (similar policy to Ryanair).

Usual troublemakers that you get in every workforce want more than they signed up for. (Again - don;t believe the union word of zero hour contracts - there are no zero hour contracts)

In the gorey case ALL workers are woring their normal shifts (rostrers created a month in advance) and they have been told there will be no immediate change in their hours.


Today the high court has put a stay on the injunction for 2 months, so looks like the store will re-open.

Again mandate say they don't know if the store will re-open. Of course they don't, Dunnes will never ever go through a union, so the unon again tries to create uncertainty when there is none.

I don;t shop in dunnes - but I have my own reason for that - but I despise union bully tactics more than I despise dunnes!

Not zero hours just crap hours.
All they're looking for is a predictable and decent weekly wage.
Dunnes have a proven track record of treating staff deplorably.

ITDept

delahuntv wrote: »

I never understand this type of comment - usually its a "union" comment rarely based on fact. Remember Dunnes (as is their right) do not recognise unions (similar policy to Ryanair).

Usual troublemakers that you get in every workforce want more than they signed up for. (Again - don;t believe the union word of zero hour contracts - there are no zero hour contracts)

In the gorey case ALL workers are woring their normal shifts (rostrers created a month in advance) and they have been told there will be no immediate change in their hours.


Today the high court has put a stay on the injunction for 2 months, so looks like the store will re-open.

Again mandate say they don't know if the store will re-open. Of course they don't, Dunnes will never ever go through a union, so the unon again tries to create uncertainty when there is none.

I don;t shop in dunnes - but I have my own reason for that - but I despise union bully tactics more than I despise dunnes!

If anyone is using bullying tactics here then surely it is Dunnes? The unions have no power here so can whinge on the sidelines but can't exactly bully anyone.

Dunnes are sending a clear message to any potential buyer of the site that they have all the power here. "Try to enforce a legally binding contract on us in court and we'll make sure all your tenants suffer / close."

This puts quite a few jobs at risk - not just the smaller tenants but also the Dunnes staff themselves. They're not going to employ people to work in a closed store for long.

I'd say the earlier poster is spot on: Dunnes don't do modern industrial relations, they're stuck in the 80s. Well, good luck to them. I, for one, won't be giving them any business in any of their stores until they start treating their staff like human beings not just numbers that can be used and abused. The management will hardly be quaking in their boots, but hopefully I'm not the only one...

delahuntv

kneemos wrote: »

Not zero hours just crap hours.
All they're looking for is a predictable and decent weekly wage.
Dunnes have a proven track record of treating staff deplorably.

3 wage rises in 3 years? - Track record is if you are crap at your job or donlt show and interest, you'll be teated the same way.

Unions bleated on about "zero hours" to get sympathy from public and to get the less informed staff to join their bully tactics. Union also said "100 jobs were being lost in Gorey with no notice given" - the reality was that ALL staff were being paid in full for their roster.

ITDept wrote: »

If anyone is using bullying tactics here then surely it is Dunnes? The unions have no power here so can whinge on the sidelines but can't exactly bully anyone.

Dunnes are sending a clear message to any potential buyer of the site that they have all the power here. "Try to enforce a legally binding contract on us in court and we'll make sure all your tenants suffer / close."

This puts quite a few jobs at risk - not just the smaller tenants but also the Dunnes staff themselves. They're not going to employ people to work in a closed store for long.

I'd say the earlier poster is spot on: Dunnes don't do modern industrial relations, they're stuck in the 80s. Well, good luck to them. I, for one, won't be giving them any business in any of their stores until they start treating their staff like human beings not just numbers that can be used and abused. The management will hardly be quaking in their boots, but hopefully I'm not the only one...

some unions are stuck in the 60's and think they can play a pr game - truth always comes out. 3 pay rises in 3 years (unlike other stores), many stores did not particpate in strike cos the workers staed (in signs on their windows) that they had no issues with their hours.

as for the gorey issue, the second entrance was open since last November - it was the receivers who too the action, not dunnes.


too many people seem to jump to conclusions and believe whatever bile unions will spout - try asking some workers who are working there for a few years. You'll get a different answer!

ITDept

delahuntv wrote: »

as for the gorey issue, the second entrance was open since last November - it was the receivers who too the action, not dunnes.


too many people seem to jump to conclusions and believe whatever bile unions will spout - try asking some workers who are working there for a few years. You'll get a different answer!

The 2nd entrance may have been open since November but this was in breach of their contract with the owners. The owners had to go to court to try and get Dunnes to comply with their contract, and at that point Dunnes threw the toys out of the buggy and closed the doors. Who is the bully?

Quite a few staff in Gorey did walk out during the strikes recently. They are on 15-hour contracts which as they pointed out at the time didn't provide them with any security and wouldn't be acceptable to any bank when trying to get a mortgage etc. When Dunnes closed the doors and everyone was back to working their rostered hours only, the point that these guys were trying to make was proven to be true. When the store was open they might have got 20 - 40 hours paid work; then they were back to 15 and able to be let go cheaply (60 hours pay off).

I'm no union man, but I think Dunnes are abusing their staff here. They're playing a game with the owner / receiver to try and raise their bargaining power in Gorey, and their own staff are suffering along with the smaller tenants in the centre.

Looks like they are to re open. http://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/stay-placed-on-high-court-injunction-at-dunnes-stores-in-gorey-31254504.html

danjo-xx

What was all the hype over letting customers out side door to car park all about

OldMrBrennan83

This post has been deleted.

Zhane

danjo-xx wrote: »

What was all the hype over letting customers out side door to car park all about

The point of an anchor store is to attract customers to the centre, thereby creating footfall for other shops. Having an entrance to skip the other tenants defeats the point of the anchor store. I hate Dunnes, would never shop there on principle.