Former Debenhams staff to leave picket lines

Former Debenhams workers will leave their picket lines tomorrow, Friday, after accepting a €3 million training and upskilling fund, the Cork Independent can confirm.

Workers voted 317 in favour of the deal, with 102 voting against.

They will officially leave their posts tomorrow morning after more than 400 days of continuous picketing for a fair redundancy payment.

A training and upskilling fund was originally offered in December but 91 per cent of former employees voting against it.

Former Debenham’s shop steward Valerie Conlon told the Cork Independent that it feels “very strange” now that the dispute is finally over.

She said staff are happy but disappointed that they didn’t get near what they had initially asked for but confirmed that the fight for improved legislation will continue.

Former employees and supporters have been picketing around the country since April 2020 when Debenhams announce the closure of all 11 of its Irish stores.