Iceland supermarket staff in north Dublin end sit-in protest

Some staff at Coolock Iceland in north Dublin have occupied the premises

Staff at an Iceland supermarket in Dublin have ended a sit-in protest after a deal was reached over wages and holiday pay.

The company which operates Iceland stores in the Republic of Ireland has been placed into examinership.

Examinership is similar to administration in the UK and allows a company time to seek new investment.

Three workers occupied the Coolock store after finding it locked when they arrived for work on Wednesday.

Their protest ended at around 19:00 local time.

"The examiner has liaised with our union rep and they have agreed to a set of terms that we are happy with for now," said Jeanette Joyce, one of the protesting workers.

'We're not ecstatic'

She told Virgin Media News that staff had been assured wages would be paid on Friday, as would holiday pay for workers due to go on leave in the coming weeks.

Staff will then have a four-week temporary lay-off before being able to apply for redundancy, she said.

Ms Joyce added: "We are not ecstatic but we are as happy as can be given the situation."

BBC News NI has attempted to contact Metron Stores Ltd, which has operated the Iceland stores since March.

One worker at Coolock Iceland in north Dublin says on social media that they turned up on Wednesday morning to find out they had no job

Speaking to BBC News NI earlier said that she and her colleagues showed up to work on Wednesday to find the shop gates had been closed.

She said staff entered the store when a maintenance crew arrived on Wednesday morning to remove food that was recalled.

"We are happy to vacate once we have it in writing that our wages, holiday pay and back week will be paid to us," she added.

A spokesperson for An Garda Síochána (Irish police force) told BBC News NI it had been made aware of "a demonstration" that involved "a small group of individuals".

"Local gardaí did engage with the parties present. No other garda involvement was necessary at this time," she said.

Signs on the store read: 'This is a legal sit in protest'

In a statement, Labour TD (MP) for Dublin Bay North, Aodhán Ó Ríordáin, said a "ridiculous situation" had occurred at Iceland stores across Dublin.

"Workers have been treated absolutely disgracefully by the company," he said.

"They turned up for work this morning only to be told they have no jobs and this is an absolutely crazy scenario. This is absolutely no way to treat workers."

The company is facing estimated debts of £30.8m and an interim examiner has recently been appointed to the company.

Earlier in June the company was ordered to withdraw all imported frozen food of animal origin from its Irish stores.

The frozen food retailers stores in Northern Ireland are still owned and operated by Iceland and are not impacted by the matters at Metron Stores.