SR Technics workers protest at Dublin Airport

More than 200 workers at the troubled SR Technics plant blocked off the main entrance to Dublin Airport for one hour today.

The staff were demonstrating at the planned closure of the aircraft maintenance firm with the loss of more than 1,100 jobs.

A Dublin Airport Authority spokeswoman said there was some traffic delays at the airport roundabout but no disruption to flight schedules.

Gardaí directed motorists to two other entrances which remained opened throughout the demonstration from 11am to midday.

Workers are also angry that SR Technics yesterday rejected a Labour Court recommendation that it doubles its redundancy package and makes up the shortfall in its pension fund.

SIPTU and other trade unions with members at the firm met today to decide on the way forward for their campaign to save the Dublin plant.

SR Technics confirmed about 600 employees will be laid off on Friday, while a further 100 staff are expected to be made redundant during this month.

The workers say they still haven’t been told by management who will be among those to go at the end of the week.

Labour leader Eamon Gilmore urged the government to step in to save the jobs before the plant is completely wound down by the end of August.

“The skills, business, equipment and hangars are here,” he said in the Dáil.

“A proposed €25m management buy-out may seem a lot of money but you’re going to lose that anyway with social welfare payments and loss in tax revenue if the jobs go.”

But Taoiseach Brian Cowen insisted the government and state agencies were working hard to find a solution to the issue.

“There have been serious expressions of interest and discussions and efforts are ongoing,” he said.

“We are working to see if there is a way forward that will be viable.”

Mr Gilmore said time was now running out for the government to do what was required in order to save hundreds of jobs.