Debenhams staff are to block stock from being removed from the chain's stores and warehouses after workers voted overwhelmingly to strike.
Some 97% voted in favour of strike action in a postal ballot in which 76% of votes were returned by workers and members of the Mandate trade union.
Valerie Conlon, a shop steward with Debenhams in Cork for 24 years, said that stock across the 11 stores nationwide is valued at between €20m and €25m. "We have to stop the stock from moving," she said. "Debenhams is trying to remove all the stock and keep the profits to keep the English stores open."
You can listen to Valerie's full conversation with Neil here:
