Air workers vote yes to 15% pay cut

WORKERS at maintenance and ground-handling provider Aviance have voted two to one in favour of a 15% pay cut that will save 150 jobs at Dublin airport.

Aviance had been planning to close its Dublin operation because it had carried out a full review of its British and Irish businesses and found that “the cost base and customer profile could not be sustained within the Dublin business model”.

It is believed it has been finding it hard to compete with rivals that are less worker-friendly.

Furthermore, in the aviation crisis, airlines are cutting the amount they are willing to pay for ground and maintenance services.

However, SIPTU, which represents the affected staff, had said it believed it could deliver efficiencies from the workforce that would make it more feasible for Aviance to remain in Dublin.

Following meetings with the company this week, the union’s representatives held a three-hour meeting with workers after which they agreed to ballot on a 15% pay cut as long as other conditions were protected.

Yesterday, the ballot yielded a 67% majority in favour of acceptance of the terms.

SIPTU aviation sector organiser, Dermot O’Loughlin, said: “It will mean a very big sacrifice for our members.

“However, the staff retain their secondary benefits, including sick and holiday pay entitlements.”