Debenhams workers will picket 11 stores across the country, including Waterford, at noon today to protest the planned liquidation of the retailer's Irish arm.
Trade Union Mandate says over 1,000 people have lost their jobs and have been told Debenhams has not enough assets to fund an agreed redundancy deal.
As well as Waterford protests will take place in Tralee, Limerick, Galway, Cork, Kildare and at four locations in Dublin.
Debenhams Waterford worker Michelle Gavin says they haven't been able to retrieve their personal belongings yet since the store closed following the introduction of COVID 19 restrictions.
The staff held another protest outside City Hall. Michelle Gavin says they want Waterford Council boss Michael Walsh to take action on retail in the city:
Waterford Fianna Fáil TD Mary Butler says for the last few years there has been a wait and see attitude to the retail business in Waterford.
She says they will now be losing out to online retailers during the pandemic:
Valerie Conlon is the shop steward at Debenhams on Patrick Street in Cork.
She says she and over 1,000 of her colleagues do not deserve to be on the dole queue after years of service.
"We are all finding it very hard," Ms Conlon said.
"It's going to be very difficult for all of us and at the end of the day none of us were working for the good of the health.
"90% of the people that were working were working because they had to work because they have mortgages, they have families.
"We still want to work. We were hard workers. It's very hard to put ourselves back out there again."
