Former employees of GAME stores based in Ireland are currently sleeping inside the recently closed shops after being denied the same back pay and redundancy benefits offered to GAME’s UK staff.
On Monday, 277 GAME Group stores closed immediately after the company entered administration (similar to filing for bankruptcy in the US), including all of its Irish locations. PricewaterhouseCoopers was appointed to handle taking care of the UK side of administration, but GAME failed to appoint an administrator for the Ireland stores. When the now former employees asked GAME for any pay and benefits past their March paycheck, the company told them to collect from the Irish government; a suggestion the ex-employees took offense to.
“We believe GAME and PricewaterhouseCoopers are making us a burden on the Irish state and Irish taxpayer while avoiding their responsibilities,” the disgruntled group said in a statement on its “Game Ireland fight for your rights” Facebook page.
Until a plan for administration is in place, ex-employees will continue to occupy their former workplaces, and refuse to allow any GAME or PwC representatives to reclaim unsold merchandise. While there haven’t been any official talks between PwC and the protesters, meetings are being arranged to take place later this week.
