Aer Lingus strike moves closer

SIPTU issued two week’s strike notice to Aer Lingus last night as Taoiseach Bertie Ahern strongly defended the Government’s decision to privatise the airline.

Ahead of the commencement of Oireachtas hearings into the Government’s decision today, the union is threatening to halt flights if a sell off is completed without agreement on core issues of concern.

A two-week strike notice means any subsequent industrial action will not affect the busy Easter period as many had feared.

SIPTU national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said issues of concern included “job security, commitments that there will be no compulsory redundancies or outsourcing, resolution of the pension issues and a number of unresolved long outstanding matters that arise from the business plan.”

However, speaking in the Dáil yesterday Mr Ahern said that the best way to secure the future of AerLingus and its employees was a sale to raise investment funds.

That view was sharply criticised by Labour leader Pat Rabbitte who accused the Government of not being truthful about the possibility of State investment in Aer Lingus and the protection offered by the retention of a 25% stake as a golden share.