Ground crew union to ballot members for industrial action

The union representing ground crew at Shannon is to ballot its members for industrial action as it fears for their futures after the separation from Dublin Airport Authority.

Siptu said that while it welcomed the job announcement for the region, it believed the business plan for the new Shannon entity was “unrealistically ambitious given that it is based on a model which envisages increasing Shannon Airport passenger numbers by 50% within a short time scale”.

Union organiser Tony Carroll said: “This is against a backdrop of falling aviation numbers and a declining GNP in Ireland and elsewhere. There has been no consultation with staff, or their representatives, to date.”

He said staff had concerns about job security and quality of employment when the new entity comes into being. “The speed with which the implementation of this decision is happening does not leave a lot of time for the necessary guarantees to be received.”

The union has decided to ballot its members — who make up the bulk of the 220 staff at the airport — for industrial action.

If the workers vote in favour of action, Mr Carroll said it will be activated “in the event we do not get the assurances we are seeking”.

He said the only communication to date had been a note from the Dublin Airport Authority giving the required 30 days’ notice that the “transaction” may take place on Dec 31.