Union anger at SR Technics

SIPTU last night criticised the Swiss management of airline maintenance firm SR Technics for not consulting with local staff before announcing the closure of its Dublin airport base with the loss of 1,135 jobs.

The company blamed the decision on the loss of major contracts from primary load customers in Dublin, the current business and economic forecasts as well as the high cost base of the operation. It said line maintenance operations, including those for Aer Lingus, would continue, but they would transfer to another operator in the future. Employee representatives have speculated the jobs might be going back to the company’s headquarters in Zurich, Switzerland. Local SIPTU organiser Jim Finnegan said the company made the unilateral announcement without any consultation on any rescue measures.

“Local management in SR Technics, the workers and the unions were not given the opportunity to formulate any type of response which might make it viable for the company to remain in Dublin. We were just not asked,” he said.