Management move averts Aer Lingus strike threat

THE threat of a strike at the country’s main airports was averted last night after management agreed to meet with workers.

SIPTU’s members at the State-owned company had called for a meeting with chief executive Willie Walsh to negotiate the major issues outlined in his three-year rationalisation plan.

The union’s national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny called off the planned one-hour employee meeting at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports on Saturday. Employee representatives and Mr Halpenny will be meeting the chief executive, who recently proposed a buy-out of the airline, over the prospect of 1,325 job cuts, losing the interline cargo service and slashing business class seats.