Airport workers threaten strike action
Members of SIPTU held an emergency meeting yesterday over plans to recruit 21 security supervisors.
Up to 600 airport police, security staff and fire officers said they had lost confidence and trust in the airport’s senior management.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) wants to appoint the supervisors to improve screening services which were strongly criticised after an April security audit by EU inspectors.
But SIPTU accused the company of trying to make the appointments without complying with existing union agreements.
Shop stewards have imposed a deadline of Thursday for management to give assurances they will honour union commitments.
SIPTU Civil Aviation Branch Secretary, Dermot O’Loughlin said: “If the company fails to respond positively it is highly probably a ballot for industrial action will be called.”
A DAA spokesman said Dublin Airport management was confident that union concerns in relation to recruiting new staff “can be successfully resolved through internal industrial relations channels.”
The DAA insisted there would be no threat to flights in the near future.
Meanwhile, airport management yesterday introduced a new passenger security screening channel to fast-track people flying from Dublin to other airports around Ireland. Passengers claimed it was quicker to travel by road or rail than face the 60-minute check-in time and fly.
