Staff from Liffey Valley took to the streets of Dublin city today in protest at the parking charges they face in the shopping centre.
The staff began their protest at the Jim Larkin statue on O'Connell street and marched to car park operators Hines Real Estate's headquarters on Sir John Rogerson's Quay. The paid parking system that was introduced at the south Dublin retail hub on 17 October 2022, with staff claiming the charges will cost them up to €3,600 a year.
Sinn Fein councillor Derren Ó Brádaigh, who was at the demonstration, said the introduction of parking charges has led to “a lot of anger, frustration and expense by members of the staff”. He said: “The real issue here is there seems to be a complete absence by Hines to engage either with the staff or with the business owners themselves."
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SIPTU representative Nicola Coleman said that the new parking fees were the equivalent to a 10 per cent cut in their pay. While People Before Profit TD Brid Smith added there are issues with public transport at the centre due to a shortage of bus drivers.
She said: “Victimising people who need a car who have no choice but to get in the car is so wrong. They’re not paid a king’s ransom for the work that they do anyway – it’s low pay generally in retail. And now they’ve taken more off.”
Local TD Gino Kenny also attended the protest and called on Hines to drop the charges. He said: “It is extremely unfair to charge workers to come to work in the 21st century."
Staff have been fighting the parking charges since October last year which would see full-time staff pay €2.50 a day if the car park isn’t full and €12.50 a day if it is – the customer parking charge. Liffey Valley management have said in the past that the new parking system is working "positively".
A Hines spokesman told Dublin Live that the new arrangements “are working well and have resulted in an improved customer experience for visitors to the Centre, particularly during busy periods”. Customers pay for the first hour of parking with a charge of €2.50 applying with the subsequent two hours free, while the staff rate is €2.50 per visit in designated staff parking areas.
“We are glad to note that there is adequate parking facilities to meet the demand for staff parking in these designated areas and that at all times since October we have been able to cater for all staff parking requirements in this area.
The spokesman also said Hines urges employees to engage directly with their retail employers when it comes to any queries that arise in relation to staff parking. They can in turn then be raised with management “who have been and continue to be available to their retailers in relation to this matter”.
“The new NTA 6-bay bus plaza will open in the coming weeks which will see buses bring commuters right to the door of the Centre to further enhance public transport connectivity to the Centre. The access for cyclists and pedestrians has also been enhanced via the works associated with the upgrade of facilities completed late last year.
“The introduction of paid parking at Liffey Valley is in line with National and Local Authority transport policies and the South Dublin County Development Plan which has been democratically adopted by its locally elected members.”
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