AN Ennis security worker who faces losing his job in the coming weeks as part of plans by Tesco to outsource nearly 100 security jobs says they are being treated “like yesterday’s rubbish”.

Fredrik Osterberg has been working security in the Ennis branch of Tesco for over 16 years. Last week Tesco security workers were called into meetings and told their jobs were being outsourced with three options: severance payment; redeployment to other positions in their store, if available; or a transfer to OCS security services.

Employees were told they had until March 1 to make a decision. The move has been condemned by Mandate Trade Union and SIPTU.

Fredrik, a father of two young children, tells us, “We have done everything that the company has asked of us, we have always been loyal but it has just not been shown back to us.

“I have had knives pulled on me, I’ve had a hatchet pulled on me. I’ve been threatened with being pulled into a van. We have had an awful couple of years with the pandemic, work for security has increased three or four times at least. We are the ones out at the front dealing with the queues, and some people who are unhappy to put masks on. I have had countless threats, at least one every week.”

“We haven’t complained, we haven’t said we are not going to do the job or anything like that. We have always kept doing the job when we have been under stress and under pressure, and now this has put this extra stress towards us.”

He continues, “I am extremely shocked and disappointed to have a thriving and profitable business such as Tesco Ireland, treat its employees with such
disrespect.

“My security colleagues and I have given huge commitment to Tesco over the years, some of us are almost 30 years with the company and are now reduced to feelings of uncertainty, desperation and anxiety. I am in constant contact with about 20 of the security team around the country and they all saying the same thing. What am I what am I going to do now with the kids education? What am I going to do with the mortgage?

“I have two young children. We had very little when I grew up, so I try to work and provide as best as I can for my children so this is obviously putting more stress on us.
What do you tell your kids, sorry no football practice because the money isn’t there.”

“Obviously, everybody wants to keep their job, nobody wants to be at home twiddling their thumbs and claiming the dole, we want to work. But if we have to go, we are just asking to be treated fairly and have options that would be fair.”

He believes a guaranteed severance package should be put in place, alternative roles in the company made available for those who want them, as well as compensation for the loss of benefits for workers who move to OCS.

“If we are to finish up with Tesco let it be our choice where we go. We want to be able to chose our future, whether we want to work for OCS, take a pay out or work in the shop in a different position,” he concludes.

Mandate has said the deadline put to workers for a decision on their future of March 1 is “unrealistic” and “disrespectful.” The union is calling on the company to drop their ultimatum with a meeting for negotiations set to take place this Thursday.

Mandate say the company dropping this bombshell on their workers who have dedicated more than 30 years to the company in some instances is insulting. “These are the ‘frontline’ and ‘essential’ workers we all celebrated at the start of the pandemic, and after all they’ve been through, they are now being told that they are disposable,” said Jonathan Hogan, Mandate Assistant General Secretary.

Mr Hogan said that Tesco must show some respect and engage in meaningful negotiations in relation to their security staff. “Tesco has had a long relationship with Mandate Trade Union which has always represented the Tesco security staff and they know how they should do business. They should have come to us first before upsetting our members with news that their future is uncertain,” said Mr Hogan.

“They don’t know what types of contract they’ll be working on if they transfer to OCS, they don’t know if there are spaces in the stores they work in and they don’t know the implications of accepting a severance package. This all needs to be negotiated.”

SIPTU Sector Organiser, Martin O’Rourke, said, “Tesco management has informed security workers that they must decide whether they wish to transfer from direct employment by the supermarket chain to employment by a private security company by March 1 or lose their jobs. SIPTU representatives are calling on the company to defer any decision on this matter and enter into serious negotiations on the future of these roles.” 

He added, “These security workers worked throughout the height of the pandemic, often placing their own health and safety on the line to protect customers and colleagues. It is completely unacceptable that they are being treated in this manner by the company.”

A Tesco Ireland spokesperson said, “International facilities manager OCS has been the trusted security partner of Tesco Ireland for over a decade, supplying two-thirds of our security and the best possible levels of expertise through its officers. As security has become more specialised and challenging in recent years, we are extending our relationship with OCS to provide all our security needs.

“We continue to engage with our colleagues in the first instance in relation to any proposed change that relates to them and with trade union representatives. There are no redundancies or job losses arising from this change.

“Our remaining security workers, who are spread across 68 stores and shopping centres, will transfer to OCS where they will receive specialist training, further development, and security career opportunities.

“Security officers will transfer under TUPE on the same terms and conditions retaining their contracted hours, rate of pay, and store location, unless agreed otherwise with OCS with continuity of service maintained. Colleagues who transfer to OCS will be provided with a compensation payment to account for Tesco specific benefits that cannot transfer, e.g., Colleague discount card.

“As an alternative to transferring to OCS, colleagues can apply for consideration for a voluntary severance package or take the opportunity to apply for other roles available with Tesco.

“Following constructive engagement with the trade unions last week, we have offered to move the date for applications for voluntary severance out by one additional week to Tuesday 8th March.”