Brennan set for double clash as travel chaos looms

MINISTER for Transport Seamus Brennan is heading for a double clash with airport unions and the Aer Rianta board of directors next week.

Travel chaos is expected in Dublin, Cork and Shannon on Monday as workers walk off the job just after lunch to discuss what

action to take to block the minister’s plans to break up the company.

Mr Brennan will also face Aer Rianta board members next week in his efforts to make the three airports independent.

The minister is believed to want to put fresh blood on the Aer Rianta board as it handles the transition. The three airports will each have their own board of directors working without statutory powers for the first year with membership to be announced next week.

It is understood the minister is keen to get people on the Aer Rianta board in favour of the break-up.

At present there are two vacancies on the board, but according to Government sources the minister is keen to free up more spaces and is anxious for the three new airport boards to be represented at Aer Rianta level.

Aer Rianta chief executive John Burke sits on the board and another three seats are taken up by worker directors. The key players on the board are Aer Rianta chairman Noel Hanlon, Freda Hayes of Blarney Woollen Mills from Cork and Liam Meade of GPA from Shannon.

The minister has spoken to these three in recent days to outline where he stood and is believed to be keen to resolve the situation diplomatically.

Unions say cover will be provided on Monday at the airports during their emergency meetings to draw up a strategy.

Last night, a Department of Transport spokesman said Mr Brennan was available for talks with the unions.

SIPTU vice president Jack O’Connor said there had been no consultation with unions prior to the minister’s announcement that Aer Rianta would be broken up.

But the Taoiseach rejected suggestions he reneged on a commitment to consult with unions on the breakup of the company.

Mr Ahern said he hopes the workforce will do nothing to damage employment or the economic position of the company.

Mr Brennan also appealed to unions not to cause disruption and said there would be consultation with the workers over the next year. Aer Rianta union officials will meet at Irish Congress of Trade Union headquarters on Monday to consider their reaction to the decision.