SIPTU to decide on strike

SIPTU will make a final decision today on whether it will continue with plans for tomorrow’s strike at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.

Tomorrow’s stoppage, timed to coincide with the arrival of EU Justice and Home Affairs ministers for an informal meeting in Dublin Castle, was called after SIPTU decided reassurances of job security from Transport Minister Seamus Brennan were not sufficient, given the Government’s plans to break up Aer Rianta.

A brief statement from SIPTU late last night said the union had decided to adjourn discussions until lunchtime today to further consider the serious issues.

In a letter delivered to SIPTU on Monday, Mr Brennan promised legislation to protect the terms and conditions of employees.

Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday he was confident key financial and other information would be made available to the unions if the strike was called off.

However, last night’s discussions were further complicated by confusion over business plans for the proposed break up of Aer Rianta, which have never been received by unions.

In an apparent admission that there was no business plan for the break up, the Aer Rianta board yesterday issued a statement saying it would propose that business plans for independent Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports be drawn up by the company and the Department of Transport.

“On this basis the board has requested SIPTU to defer its industrial action,” the statement read.

However, a spokesman for Mr Brennan said there were detailed business plans/projections for the three airports.