Airport unions vote for strike action

FOUR Dublin Airport unions yesterday voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in a row over travel discounts received by former Aer Rianta staff.

The discount scheme, which allows airport staff to travel on cheap flights, was thrown into doubt after Aer Lingus announced it would no longer participate in the deal.

However, unions argue that the deal should remain in place as all terms and conditions of former Aer Rianta staff are protected under the legislation which was passed to implement the break-up of Aer Rianta.

After the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) voted by over nine to one for industrial action yesterday, shop steward Ian McDonnell, said the withdrawal of the travel discount scheme represented “a significant dilution of employees pay and conditions.”

“The ink is hardly dry on the State Airports Act,” he said, “and it seems the new Authority is reneging on . . . commitments.”

IMPACT members also voted for the action, by a margin of 124 to 31 while 190 Mandate members voted in favour of industrial action.

SIPTU’s Dublin Airport branch also voted by 624 votes to 93 to resist the removal of the scheme.

However the Dublin Airport Authority last night described the threat of industrial action as a disproportionate response to the issues involved.