Airline workers picket Taoiseach’s clinic

MORE than 70 Aer Lingus workers last night picketed the Taoiseach’s constituency clinic in Dublin for the second time in a week.

During the hour-long picket at Bertie Ahern’s offices at St Lukes, Drumcondra, which was organised by SIPTU, the workers gathered to show their opposition to the sell-off of the national airline.

The protest saw the workers distributing a leaflet which pointed out that:

Aer Lingus is a profitable airline turned around by the workforce.

There was never a business case for its privatisation.

All the company got for privatisation was €400 million.

The Government was warned there was the potential for a predatory takeover particularly by Ryanair.

Over the last week, the airline’s workers have picketed the Dáil to try to put pressure on the Government to act immediately to stop the threatened takeover by Ryanair.

National industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny said they had no response from either of the TDs.

“We are doing this to draw attention to the Government and particularly

Fianna Fáil’s responsibility on this,” he said.

“None of this would have happened if they had invested the minimum amount in the airline. It needed €1.6 billion. That is only a fraction of the commitment the Government has given to Transport 21.”

Mr Halpenny said that even though Michael O’Leary had pinpointed catering and clerical jobs as the main areas here where Ryanair would slash jobs, “jobs in the air” would also be under threat.

As far as the union is concerned he said they would now be turning their focus to the Employees Share Ownership Trust (ESOT).

A ballot of the members would be needed on whether the Ryanair offer is accepted or rejected.

Over the weekend, SIPTU’s south western region conference heard from Corina Roche who works in the clerical section of Aer Lingus.

She called on workers across the country to unite behind them in their hour of need.

“We will not let Michael O’Leary or any other Michael O’Leary slash our jobs,” she said.