Unions seek talks to avert air strike

TRADE UNIONS at Aer Rianta have made a last-ditch effort to start talks with the Minister for Transport in a bid to avoid strike action at the country’s three main airports.

Leaders of the main Aer Rianta unions, including SIPTU, Mandate, Impact and the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union met at Dublin Airport yesterday to decide what action to take over the planned break-up of the company into three separate airport authorities.

It followed Transport Minister Seamus Brennan’s recent rejection of calls by the unions for an independent review of his controversial plans to give autonomy to Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

More than 85% of Aer Rianta workers voted last month in favour of industrial action should the minister press ahead without any guarantees for the future of almost 2,000 employees.

SIPTU president Jack O’Connor said the unions were appealing to Mr Brennan to take up an immediate offer of a talks process without pre-conditions to be chaired by an independent chairman.

Speaking on behalf of the group of unions, Mr O’Connor said they were surprised the Department of Transport had not put forward any business plans for the future of the three airports.

“It’s hard to imagine if the Government is going to proceed with something as dramatic as this, it would not have a business plan,” he said.

The failure of the department to provide any statistical analysis of Aer Rianta’s future business to union representatives had increased fears amongst employees, he added.

The SIPTU president said most workers were concerned the minister’s plans would increase the strength of the major airlines at the expense of the company. He claimed the offer to hold talks involving a third-party represented a major move on behalf of the unions to break the current deadlock.

“We are appealing to the minister and the Government to avail of this opportunity,” said Mr O’Connor.

Although Mr Brennan has sought to assure the unions no job losses are envisaged as part of the restructuring of Aer Rianta, workers remain unhappy that there are no firm guarantees.

Unions are also annoyed at comments made by Mr Brennan in a letter to ICTU general secretary David Begg last month. It said he was “not convinced of the appropriateness of involving a third party”.

Trade union sources have already warned industrial action could take the form of a series of one-day stoppages.

Mr O’Connor said the Aer Rianta unions would meet again on October 20 to review any progress.

Last night, a spokesperson for Mr Brennan said he wished to consider the unions’ proposals before announcing his response.