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A strike at Haldane Fisher in Newry is continuing, with around 30 workers on the picket line outside the premises at Carnbane.
The strike began last Wednesday 10 June as a result of the workers voting to reject a below-inflation, 2.5 per cent pay increase imposed by management.
Many of the strikers have given a lifetime of service to Haldane Fisher or Haldane Shields as it was previously. Two have worked almost 50 years each for the company.
Shop Steward Paddy Bennett who has been with the company 24 years himself said: "Don't get me wrong, it's a good place to work in, but they have overstretched the mark this time" He thinks it's forty years since there was a strike at the business over "boots and uniforms" in the former Monaghan Street premises.
Bennett explained that a 2.5% pay rise was put straight into the wages, something Haldane Fisher never did any year. "They put 2.5% into the wages without negotiation."
So far there has been no discussions with management. "People seem to think that it's the strike force that's the problem - we don't want to talk to them, but it's management that don't wan't to talk to us." he adds.
He continued "They've come out with a say- so, that if you just go back to work, we'll talk. That's not going to happen. That's just to get you in through the gate and there'll be nothing mentioned."
The strikers are looking a pay rise of 6% "a reasonable amount" Bennett concludes.
A statement from Unite the Union explains that Haldane-Fisher has its own network of shops but its Newry supply store is central to its supply trade to builders’ merchants across the Republic of Ireland. "The strike has severely impacted deliveries and raises the prospect of significant disruption to the construction sector – coming at a time when contractors traditionally seek to finish work before the holiday period.
"Haldane-Fisher group’s latest accounts [year to end 2024] show after-tax profits of £1.9 million and a dividend paid to the company’s shareholders of £3.5 million. In the four years of published accounts since 2021 the pay of the highest paid director increased 27 per cent to £154k while average (inflation adjusted) pay for workers fell by four per cent in real terms."
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said, “Haldane-Fisher is a highly successful business, but its low paid workforce has seen their pay packets fall further and further behind. Meanwhile, management has ensured their pay outstripped inflation and paid dividends to shareholders that dwarfed the company’s profits.
“The workers at Haldane-Fisher have the full support of Unite for as long as it takes to secure pay justice and respect.”
Unite say that Haldane-Fisher management have refused to enter Labour Relations Agency mediated negotiations to resolve the dispute.
Unite regional officer Sean Smyth said, “Newry is at the heart of Haldane-Fisher’s trade supply. This strike has severely impacted deliveries to builders merchants and that impact will only grow. Management needs to understand the longer this strike continues the greater the risk of long-term reputational damage.
“Management know what they must do to end this disruption. They need to return to the negotiating table with a pay offer that meets our members pay expectations.”
Newry.ie has asked Haldane Fisher for comment.
Addition 6/7/26
Haldane Fisher have released a statement commenting on current strike action taking place at the Carnbane business in which they say they want to correct the public record on the industrial action which has been taking place at the Newry headquarters of the business.
"Haldane Fisher wishes to correct several inaccurate claims made publicly about industrial action at its Newry (Carnbane) facility, and to set out an accurate factual record.
Claim: The company refused to engage.
Unite served notice of an industrial action ballot on 6 May, before any discussions had taken place. When the ballot result was issued on 3 June, the company engaged the Labour Relations Agency, attended scheduled talks on 8 June, and has continued discussions with colleagues' representatives since.
Claim: A 2.5% pay increase was imposed.
The 2.5% group wide pay increase was applied solely to avoid financially disadvantaging the colleagues Unite represents while matters remained unresolved, a position that arose because the pay claim was submitted late. The company confirmed in writing at the time that the matter remained open to negotiation with Unite.
On 29 June, company representatives met with Unite and tabled a fair, improved offer in line with the current rate of inflation. This was rejected by the union.
Claim: Pay has fallen behind inflation.
We recognise the real pressure inflation places on households. Since 2021, Haldane Fisher operational colleagues have received cumulative pay increases 7% above inflation. However, the sector has moved into a cost-of-doing-business crisis, and any settlement must be sustainable to protect jobs and colleagues' long-term security.
On public comment
The company is disappointed that elected political representatives have commented publicly and, in some cases, visited the picket line without first seeking its position or establishing the facts. A fair resolution is not helped by one side being given a public platform before the facts are established."
A Haldane Fisher spokesperson added: “We sought independent help before any strike, we attended the table, and our door remains open. Our focus is a fair resolution and the protection of jobs for all our colleagues.”
