Staff who are staging a sit-in at two HMV stores in Limerick are continuing their protest today in a desperate attempt to get the unpaid wages that they are owed.
The Irish Times reports that around a dozen employees occupied the HMV store at the Crescent Shopping Centre in Limerick yesterday afternoon when they learned that the company had gone into receivership. Another 14 members of staff followed suit and staged another sit-in at the HMV branch on Cruises Street in Limerick city centre.
Staff have said that they are trying to secure the wages that are owed to them by HMV, including holiday pay and money that they earned over Christmas.
“All we want is what we are owed. We would also like to see a buyer come in and take us over and reopen again,” said a store manager at the Crescent Shopping Centre branch, speaking this morning.
“We are looking for a bit of support from the Irish Government because UK retailers who operate in Ireland should not be able to treat their staff like this,” he added.
The sit-in began after it was confirmed that HMV had appointed Deloitte as a receiver in the Republic of Ireland. The company issued a statement on Monday night which said that it would continue to trade as normal while it looked for a buyer, however, it closed every one of its Irish shops yesterday.
The iconic HMV logo
“We were told today we were let go. No assurances on our wages. So, we are in the dark completely. We don’t know what we are going to do. I’m distraught,” said Michelle Hennigar, speaking to the Irish Independent.
Ms Hennigar and her boyfriend share a home together and both of them have been working for HMV for the past eight years.
“We’ve nothing that can put our minds to rest. We don’t know what we’re going to do. I’m very upset. My boyfriend, he tends to stay calm but he’s in the same boat as me. We are living together and we don’t know how we are going to pay our bills,” she added.
Ms Hennigar said that the staff would remain defiant until they were paid what they are owed by the company.
According to reports, two representatives of Deloitte remained inside the stores with the staff last night although they did not comment on the current situation. Other businesses surrounding both Limerick stores brought the protesters food and drink supplies in a show of solidarity.
