SIPTU warns over CityJet handling

COMPANIES who operate in conjunction with CityJet handling airports throughout the country have been warned by the country’s biggest trade union that they face industrial action if they continue to do so.

A SIPTU ballot of airport workers in Dublin, Cork, Shannon, Galway and Knock found 86% nationwide support for Dublin airport workers who have been in a long running dispute with CityJet handlers over pay.

“CityJet handling are the quintessential low payers in this sector,” said Dermot O’Loughlin, SIPTU branch official.

As an example he compared pay rates at CityJet handling with the Aviance handling company, which showed a 33% discrepancy.

“At Dublin Airport the shift allowance for baggage handlers is 71. At CityJet handling the allowance is 30.52,” he said.

Aer Lingus, Aer Rianta, Aviance, Servisair and FLS workers in the country’s airports were balloted by SIPTU. The union represents 90% of the 120 workers at the company.

The long-running dispute will embroil other companies in the aviation industry if they continue to do business in conjunction with CityJet handling.

Now, notice of industrial action has been served on various companies operating at Dublin, Shannon, Cork, Galway and Knock airports.

This follows the refusal of Cityjet Handling Ltd to engage in negotiation with SIPTU on pay and conditions of employment for its ground handling agents.

The action will involve a boycott of any activities undertaken by these companies in connection with the handling services of Cityjet Handling Ltd.

All other work normally undertaken by SIPTU members in these companies will be carried out as usual, Mr O’Loughlin said.

The proposed action may commence any time after 4.00am on October, 31 and may continue for up to three hours at a time. It may be repeated at the discretion of the participants until such time as the dispute is resolved, he said.

CityJet Handling Ltd could not be contacted for comment last night.

In August this year, 20 baggage-handlers at Dublin Airport took part in a 24-hour stoppage prompted by the pay dispute.

SIPTU said at the time that the action was taken as a last resort after management failed to discuss their pay claim.

CityJet Handling, taken over by a French-owned company Group Crit more than a year ago, handles baggage and check-in for a number of airlines including Aer Arann Express, Aer France, Air Wales and British European.

CityJet has accepted that in the past that its workers’ basic pay is lower than some other baggage handling companies.

However, it says that the overall package is similar to others when conditions are taken into account.