Workers at Dunnes Stores are to ballot for industrial action over a number of issues including zero-hour contracts and full union recognition.

The retail trade union Mandate, which represents about 40 per cent of the retailer’s more than 10,000 workers, said shop stewards had voted overwhelmingly in favour of the move. Mandate said the balloting process will commence in the coming weeks.

The union, which represents more than 4,000 workers in Dunnes Stores, say the ballot is taking place after the company ignored a request by the Labour Court to sit down with workers to discuss their grievances.

In November, the Labour Court recommended that Dunnes consult with employees on a range of issues including excessive use of temporary work contracts, union recognition and low and zero-hour contracts.

According to a survey of workers, three quarters of Dunnes staff are on part-time flexible contracts and 98 per cent want more stable hours.

Many employees are stuck on zero-hour contracts which force them to be always available for work without a guarantee of a fixed number of hours.

"The combination of low pay and flexible hours means that many Dunnes workers cannot afford to provide a basic standard of living for themselves and their dependents. Many of our members cannot access mortgages or loans because of insecurity of hours due to low-hour contracts. Dunnes workers want to have their right to trade union representation vindicated, particularly when it comes to disciplinaries and collective bargaining. Key to all of this is the fact they don't feel respected by their employer," said Mandate assistant general secretary Gerry Light.

Dunnes did not respond to a request for comment.