Trade union umbrella group Congress has thrown its weight behind tomorrow's lunchtime rally in support of hundreds of staff at Clery's store in Dublin.
Workers were dramatically told on Friday the historic property on Dublin’s O’Connell Street was being closed.
General secretary Patricia King said staff had been treated outrageously and called on Jobs Minister Richard Bruton to launch an investigation into whether their treatment was lawful.
“Congress would also question whether that treatment fully adheres to the law,” she said.
David Fitzsimons, chief executive of Retail Excellence Ireland, said the new owners of Clerys and the investors who sold it had a duty to give staff what was owed to them.
“We understand that the circa 50 store concessions operating in Clerys are owed approximately six weeks' of takings that should have been held ’in trust’ and paid to them this morning,” he said.
“This money was earned by store concessions operating within Clerys over the past six weeks. It does not belong to either Clerys or its buyers.”