SIPTU action to disrupt airports
SIPTU has planned a compulsory meeting of its airline members on Thursday morning, which will mean passengers at Dublin and Shannon will be unable to check-in, board flights or have their baggage put on planes.
SIPTU said the involvement of staff in Cork is likely, but it has not been confirmed. If a meeting in Cork goes ahead, passengers there will be similarly affected.
Trades union insiders say the action will cause significant disruption and delays.
“Even though the meeting will be lasting 75 minutes, there will be knock-on delays from that as one flight delays another and so on.
“The reality is that it will take Aer Lingus most of the day to catch up,” said one union member.
The SIPTU is taking action in relation to a pay- and-conditions deal Aer Lingus is offering its 3,800 staff. The €250 million deal is aimed at ensuring their cooperation with plans for the airline’s privatisation.
The deal includes lump sum payments, pay increases, guarantees about future job numbers and contributions to the company’s pension fund.
The deal also guarantees that no jobs will be outsourced until 2010, while the airline would pay €100m towards the e170m shortfall in the company’s pension fund. Workers will have to make good the rest.
SIPTU is dissatisfied with the deal, and is staging a meeting between 9.45am and 11am on Thursday. The union has around 1,500 members at Aer Lingus.
SIPTU national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said: “Dublin and Shannon staff will definitely be involved, while there is the possibility that staff in Cork will be involved as well.”
Aer Lingus has been involved in talks with SIPTU and IMPACT over the deal. IMPACT is not involved in the action.
Industry experts expect the airline to put in place contingency plans to lessen the effect of the industrial action on holiday-makers and business passengers.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
