Plans to redevelop Clerys department store into a boutique hotel, which will see it become a 'rooftop destination' with the addition of restaurants and bars, are to go ahead after SIPTU withdrew its appeal, reports the Irish Independent.
SIPTU announced a settlement earlier this week to the 21-month long dispute, which resulted from the closure of the department store. SIPTU Clerys shop steward and Justice for the Clerys Workers Campaign spokesman, Gerry Markey, said that an "agreement on a settlement which will protect working conditions in the Clerys Development into the future" was achieved after meeting with OCS Properties director Deirdre Foley.
He added: "The settlement also provides for a goodwill payment for the former employees of OCS Properties Ltd in liquidation who were made redundant on 15 June 2015 who were employed on the O’Connell Street site."
Lord mayor of Dublin, Brendan Carr, commented: “It will be the role of the office of Lord Mayor in coming years to ensure that a proper balance is maintained between the interests of business and workers in the Clerys Development. It is hoped that the framework agreed for this development may also become a template for others concerned with other regeneration projects in our city. Such an approach is in the best interests of the citizens of Dublin.”
