Dunnes Stores retail staff belonging to the Mandate trade union are attending a Labour Court hearing in pursuit of better employment contracts.

The union recently established a campaign called 'Decency for Dunnes Workers', as it seeks certainty about working hours and earnings for employees.

Dunnes employs 14,000 staff in 112 stores across the country.

Mandate said that workers can experience significant variations in their working hours, which result in uncertainty around earnings.

It also alleges that temporary contracts are being used excessively.

The union is seeking the introduction of banded hour contracts, which would improve security of hours and earnings.

It is also seeking a review of pay scales and pay rates, and the right to union representation for Mandate members at the company.

Mandate Assistant General Secretary Gerry Light said the key issue was to ensure that members in Dunnes Stores could be guaranteed a weekly wage they could depend on.

Dunnes employee Bernie Wesley from Dundalk said the current system made it impossible to plan anything, including bank or credit union loans.

Muireann Dalton from Newtownmountkennedy said that contracts ranged from 15 to 38 hours, but that working for 15 hours delivered less than social welfare.

She said she had a permanent contract, but did not know what hours she would have from week to week.