Urgent talks held over airport check-in dispute

Urgent talks are being held between management and baggage handlers at Aer Lingus today in a bid to end a dispute over the airline’s new check-in area at Dublin Airport.

The move follows threats by the airline over the weekend to suspend staff members who fail to begin work in the refurbished basement area of the airport.

The new €15m Area 14 facility was due to open last Tuesday to deal with passengers travelling on Aer Lingus’ UK bound and long-haul flights.

SIPTU claims the move to the basement represents an erosion in its members’ working environment, maintaining the new space is not purpose-built and is noisier, hotter and more congested.

Shop stewards at the airport have sought a €1,000 compensation claim for members for the move.

However, the airline has said it is determined to open the new facility after the Health and Safety Authority (HAS) certified it as fit to work in.

Enda Corneille, Air Lingus commercial director, said the airline has adhered to all the concerns of the HAS and stressed it will not be forced to pay staff extra to work in the facility.

“They are the experts and they have certified it fit for purpose,” he said.

“There’s adequate ventilation and air conditioning.

“But after all of that we get landed with a very cynical claim that for 1,000 euro per head increase in salary, and a number of promotions – and we are saying enough is enough.

“We’ve gone through process on this, our customers deserve a better level of service, and we are determined to open the area.

“We can’t have a situation as a PLC and competitive airline, in a very competitive market, that every time we initiate some degree of change we have to pay compensation for it or are held to ransom by a small group of staff.”

Mr Corneille said customers are currently checking in in a overcrowded area on the departure floor and deserve a better facility.

“As the summer is upon us, that area will get worse,” he continued.

“Area 14 offers a facility to give passengers a much better experience with a lot less congestion and a far better airport experience.

“It’s due to open later on this morning and passengers should present themselves as normal for check in.

“We are confident that we can reopen the facility very shortly.”

SIPTU’s Noel Maguire claims there was no consultation with staff before the facility opened.

“We’re in the middle of procedures as far as we’re concerned,” he told RTÉ.

“All we are asking at this point in time is the company comply with the agreed procedures and allow us to get to a resolution.

“There was no consultation and we had to drag health and safety issues to completion.

“As far as the claims are concerned we were asked what might persuade people to change minds and we put those ideas forward as suggestions.”

When opened, Area 14 will handle around 11,000 passengers and is designed to relieve some of the congestion from the check-in area on the ground floor of Dublin Airport.