Over 2,000 Marks and Spencer workers in are to strike across Ireland in the run-up to Christmas, trade union Mandate has said.
Staff voted overwhelmingly in favour of a wave of festive walk-outs in a deepening row with bosses over the closure of a pension scheme.
Mandate, which says it represents the vast majority of the 2,300 employees in the retail chain's 17 shops across the Irish Republic, has given formal notification of strike action.
The first walk-out is planned for on Saturday 7 December, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, with two further days of action planned before Christmas.
Pickets will also be staged at the stores after 94% of those balloted backed a protest.
"Mandate has traditionally had a good relationship with Marks & Spencer, however, in recent months the company has made many decisions which are baffling and shocking," a Mandate spokesperson said.
An M&S spokeswoman said the company is prepared to reopen talks in a bid to avert the industrial action.
"M&S has done all it can to try and move this situation forward so we are extremely disappointed that the company has been given notice that strike action has been called," she said.
