Strike action is threatened from next week in a dispute between the Irish shopworkers' union, Mandate, and German discount chain Aldi. The dispute, which is over staff pay and conditions at Aldi's Dublin store, is complicated by the company's refusal to recognise the union. Mandate officials are warning that if the strike goes ahead, then outlets in Cork and Letterkenny, County Donegal, will also be affected. They have threatened to picket Aldi's stores. The union claims Aldi fails to provide its Dublin staff with a work roster a week in advance, as required by law; staff never know how long they will be working, or what they will be doing on any particular day. "It seems to us that the company is totally ignorant of Irish employment laws," said Mandate official William Hamilton, adding that the union had asked to meet Aldi management to discuss these grievances, but was told that the company did not deal through a union. It sent a similar message to the Irish Labour Relations Commission ­ the equivalent of ACAS ­ when it offered to intervene. Aldi has been advertising for staff at IR£7-plus per hour which compares well with the new minimum wage of IR£4.40/hour. But Hamilton claims that few staff are getting such a good deal. - Meanwhile, Roches Stores is taking Aldi to court in a dispute over access to loading bays in Dublin. The companies share access to their stores, but Roches says the road is often blocked with lorries delivering to Aldi. {{NEWS }}

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