Baggage handling dispute may disrupt air travel

TRAVELLERS passing through Dublin Airport may face serious disruption due to an industrial dispute.

Strike action at baggage handling company CityJet Handling appears likely to escalate to involve stoppages by other airport workers.

The threat to services this weekend was averted following a meeting of shop stewards at the airport last evening. However, the prospect of major delays to flights remains as a number of the strikers have been issued with notice starting next Wednesday.

Shop stewards representing over 6,000 SIPTU members at Dublin Airport, including staff from Aer Lingus, Aer Rianta, FLS, Aviance and Serviceair, met yesterday to discuss how to support their striking colleagues.

At a highly charged meeting, several speakers voiced anger at reports that CityJet Handling had brought in strike-breakers.

Although SIPTU claims that over half of CityJet Handling’s 145-strong staff are members of the union, the company claims that fewer than 20 employees are involved in the industrial action.

According to SIPTU, staff at CityJet Handling are paid more than 30% less than their counterparts in the other main handling companies. The union claims they receive just 335.73 for an average 40-hour week which can include weekend shifts and 3.30am starts.

CityJet Handling, which provides baggage services for a number of several airlines including Aer Arann, Air France, British European and Air Wales, was initially owned by CityJet but was taken over by French-owned firm Group Crit last year.

CityJet Handling staff at Dublin Airport began industrial action on August 28 after claiming management had refused to discuss a pay claim they had filed earlier this summer. The company has has also refused to recognise the union in discussions on pay and conditions.

Airport workers belonging to other with baggage handling firms Aviance and Serviceair have already voted by over 90% to withdraw co-operation and services to aircraft handled by the compan Baggage handlers are also concerned that CityJet Handling is trying to undercut other operators when some airline baggage handling contracts come up for renewal later this autumn. One SIPTU source said the present industrial action threatened to cause widespread disruption But the union has decided to postpone a decision on supportive action until after a general meeting of all SIPTU workers at the airport next Wednesday.

Last night, CityJet Handling said the company it did not recognise trade unions because the majority of its staff had consistently opted for its own internal staff representative process. It said only 13 employees had sought union recognition.

A spokesperson said CityJet Handling had been chosen by clients for its quality of service and not on low charges.