Fears for 465 Lufthansa Technik jobs
Last night, Ms Coughlan appealed to workers who have opposed new overtime arrangements “to consider the serious implications of their actions”.
The Tánaiste said as somebody who had worked with senior trade union representatives in a determined bid to save the company from collapse, “it would be most regrettable if the actions of a small few jeopardise the jobs of so many in this highly skilled sector”.
Management has threatened to put all workers on protective notice from Monday next if the agreement on changes to work practices, voted through by 229 votes to 60, was not honoured.
Late last April, unemployment disaster was narrowly averted when management and unions at the aircraft maintenance firm agreeda deal on emergency workplace changes. The company had prior to that threatened to shut down the aviation engineering facility in Rathcoole and shelve plans for a €31 million investment at the Dublin plant.
The agreement on changes to work practices came at the end of protracted talks at the National Implementation Body (NIB) against the backdrop of aircraft engineering company SR Technics’ decision to close its Dublin Airport plant with the loss of 1,200 jobs.
