Strikes ‘unstoppable’ after union walk out

THE prospect of industrial action crippling air, road and rail transport rose dramatically last night as SIPTU’s Aer Rianta negotiators walked out of talks with the Department of Transport.

Citing no progress after six months of talks, angry union officials said strikes at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports were now virtually unstoppable. The move comes as CIÉ unions are expected to agree a resumption of their postponed strike action at a meeting today.

Both CIÉ and Aer Rianta unions already have strike mandates from postponed actions last year and could move in a matter of weeks to full stoppages.