Paul Murphy criticises Tesco for outsourcing longtime security staff
Paul Murphy raised with the Taoiseach Tesco's decision to outsource its directly employed retail security officers to OCS and condemned the lack of engagement with affected workers. He said long-serving staff were given only weeks to choose between redundancy or transfer and warned outsourcing would likely undermine their terms and conditions.
Tesco move to outsource
Murphy said Tesco sent notice to its directly employed retail security officers that their jobs are to be outsourced to OCS, with no engagement with the workers. He noted some staff have worked in some cases up to two decades and were given a few weeks to decide between redundancy or being outsourced.
Risk to pay and employment terms
He warned that if staff are outsourced to OCS there is no guarantee their terms and conditions will be preserved and it is likely those conditions would be undermined over time. Murphy also pointed out that OCS could lose the Tesco contract, further risking workers' pay and protections, and described pursuing outsourcing alongside other negotiations as negotiating in bad faith.
Workers' contribution and alternatives suggested
Murphy emphasised these were "the workers who were clapped, who kept supermarkets open" during the pandemic and argued that, given Tesco is "still highly profitable," the company should withdraw the outsourcing plan. He said Tesco should instead increase wages and improve terms, citing "Hafton in Dunn's" as an example of wage improvements.
Taoiseach's response on policy
The Taoiseach replied that he was not familiar with the specific case but generally does not support the outsourcing trend and believes employers should look after their workers. He noted the economy is close to full employment and said quality jobs and pay must reflect workers' commitment, adding that outsourcing policy seems counterintuitive to retaining staff.
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I want to raise with the Taoiseach the very poor treatment by Tesco's of its workers. Yesterday they sent notice to their directly employed retail security officers that their jobs are going to be outsourced to OCS. There has been no engagement with the workers whatsoever. It means that workers who have worked in some cases up to two decades for Tesco's have been given a few weeks to choose between redundancy or being outsourced. If they are outsourced to OCS there is no guarantee and in fact it is very likely that their terms and conditions will be undermined over time. OCS, for example, could lose the Tesco contract. Would you agree that Tesco should immediately withdraw this approach and this attempt to outsource these jobs? The idea that they are negotiating on other aspects of Tesco workers' terms and conditions when pursuing this outsourcing is obviously ridiculous. It shows they are negotiating in very bad faith. Tesco is still highly profitable. Tesco is still highly profitable. These are the workers who were clapped, who kept supermarkets open. Instead of outsourcing jobs they should be increasing wages like Hafton in Dunn's and improving terms and conditions. Thank you Deputy. I am not familiar with the specifics of the case that the Deputy has raised but generally it makes sense that employers would look after their workers and I am not supportive of that outsourcing policy or trend. We are very close to full employment in our economy. But what is crucial in that context is that their quality jobs and their paying conditions reflect the talent, commitment and enthusiasm of those who are working for firms and companies. and the policy that seems to me to be counter-чиhte kick participants to be counterintuitive and to retaining staff.
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