Sir, – We teach and research in the area of business and management practice, employment relations and economics, law, social science and related public policy.
The recent action of Natrium Ltd (a joint venture of D2 Private and Cheyne Capital Management) in sacking long-standing and hard-working employees of the world-renowned Clerys department store in Dublin is not only deplorable at a human and personal level, it is also symptomatic of an increasingly permissive business philosophy that is growing in scope and reach.
It is a business model that devalues human effort, worth and dignity. The consequences of such an approach, if left unchecked, will be bad for society, bad for Ireland, and potentially damage the many reputable businesses in this country.
In the wake of the global financial crisis and the country’s bailout by the troika, the teaching of ethical business and management practice, informed by leading-edge scholarship and research, is an essential long-term public good. We, the undersigned, all seek to inspire this ethical practice among the next generations of managers and business leaders through our teaching and research platforms.
The appalling manner of the sackings of the hundreds of dedicated workers who lost their jobs and livelihoods in Clery’s underscores an inherent weakness in Irish law and an unpalatable business philosophy, where citizens, as employees, can have their futures determined at the unpredictable whim of a few privileged individual owners.
Not only would the workers and new owners of Clery’s benefit from genuine engagement and dialogue, Irish businesses and society would be viewed in a more positive light on the world stage.
The new corporate owner of Clerys has already had substantial benefit from agencies owned by Irish taxpayers, yet refuses to meet and engage with employee and union representatives seeking redress from the current injustice.
The Government can, and should, regulate for better rights and more effective employee information and consultation laws, in line with the principles set out in Article 27 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the EU and Articles 21 and 29 of the European Social Charter. This would be for the benefit of not only Clery’s employees, but for all employees and citizens in Ireland.
The Government has the opportunity to correct a present injustice and pursue longer-term objectives towards building a better society and stable economy through improved workforce democracy and dialogue. – Yours, etc,
Dr LUCY-ANN BUCKLEY,
School of Law,
NUI Galway;
Prof DAVID COLLINGS,
Business School,
Dublin City University;
Dr NIALL CULLINANE,
Queen’s
Management School,
Queen’s University Belfast;
Dr JOHN CUNNINGHAM,
School of Humanities,
NUI Galway;
Dr JEAN CUSHEN,
Business School,
Dublin City University;
Prof MICHAEL DOHERTY,
Department of Law,
NUI Maynooth;
Prof TONY DUNDON,
School of Business
and Economics,
NUI Galway;
Dr ROLAND ERNE,
School of Business,
University College Dublin;
Prof JOHN GEARY,
School of Business,
University College Dublin;
Prof PATRICK GUNNIGLE,
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
Dr NOEL HARVEY,
GMIT and
Chairman Irish Association
for Industrial Relations);
Dr EUGENE HICKLAND,
School of Business
and Economics,
NUI Galway;
MARY KEATING,
Associate Professor
of Business,
Trinity College Dublin;
Dr SÉAMAS KELLY,
(School of Business,
University College Dublin;
Dr JONATHAN LAVELLE,
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
Dr JULIET MACMAHON;
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
MAUREEN MALONEY,
JE Cairnes School
of Business and Economics,
NUI Galway;
Dr ANTHONY
McDONNELL,
Queen’s
Management School,
Queen’s University Belfast;
Prof TERRENCE
McDONOUGH,
School of Business
and Economics,
NUI Galway;
Dr KIERAN JACK
McGINLEY,
President, Irish Labour
History Society
and Trinity College Dublin,
Dr COLM McLAUGHLIN,
School of Business,
University College Dublin;
Prof PETER McNAMARA,
School of Business,
NUI Maynooth;
Dr CAROLINE MURPHY,
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
Dr MICHELLE
O’SULLIVAN,
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
Prof BILL ROCHE,
School of Business,
University College Dublin;
Dr LORRAINE RYAN,
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
Dr PAUL RYAN,
School of Business
and Economics,
NUI Galway;
Dr TOM TURNER,
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
JOSEPH WALLACE,
Emeritus,
Kemmy Business School,
University of Limerick;
GERRY WHYTE,
School of Law,
Trinity College Dublin;
Prof JAMES WICKHAM ,
Trinity College Dublin.