SIPTU plans Aer Lingus campaign lift-off
SIPTU's campaign to keep the airline in public ownership and control will involve lobbying every elected public representative in Ireland.
Earlier this year, the Government decided to sell a majority share holding to raise capital to allow the airline to buy new planes.
Currently, the union said, Aer Lingus was one of the world's most profitable airlines. Under privatisation, shares would have to be offered at a large discount to attract potential investors a loss to both taxpayers and the Exchequer.
The union yesterday described this as "a triumph for the free marketeers in the Cabinet and a victory for ideology over common sense". It was bad for the country, the taxpayer, the workforce and bad business for Aer Lingus.
SIPTU president Jack O'Connor noted the Government's clear commitment when it evaluated the way forward following its decision not to invest in Aer Lingus.
"They didn't rule out any proposition that might be put forward by the trade union movement or otherwise," he said.
Launching the campaign, Mr O'Connor said if Aer Lingus was privatised or partially sold off, the country would lose a strategic company that was vital to our open, island economy.
In a pamphlet, A New Flight Path for Aer Lingus: The Alternative to Selling Our National Airline, the union argues it makes little sense financially to sell the national carrier.
It warns it could lead to another privatisation debacle similar to those surrounding the Eircom privatisation and the sale of Air New Zealand.
Instead of selling the airline, the union is calling for Aer Lingus and 12 other commercial State enterprises to be transferred from the Department of Finance to a new State Holding Company.
Through the SHC, equity for investment could be raised on the financial markets without surrendering control of the airline's strategic development.
ICTU general secretary David Begg, who attended the launch, said this was a workable alternative to get capital into the State enterprises without having them privatised.
"Nobody has been able to shoot it down in any shape or form. We're very anxious that Government would give it some serious consideration.
"The biggest problem we have, frankly, is getting people to give it a fair analysis, particularly in the business press.
"It's almost as if because the proposal comes from trade union sources people are unwilling to take it seriously or give it the analysis it deserves," said Mr Begg.
