Airport staff balloted for industrial action

Siptu is balloting members at Shannon Airport for industrial action following the Government’s decision to separate it from the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA).

Siptu organiser Tony Carroll said workers at Shannon “have a lot of concerns over separation”.

The ballot of the 200 Siptu members was continuing yesterday with a result due on Friday.

Mr Carroll said it would be workers’ preference to be seconded from the DAA to work for the new Shannon entity. “There is a precedent for this,” he said.

“Workers have been not consulted at all and the only correspondence the workers have received is a statutory 30 day notice from the DAA informing them that separation is taking place at the end of the month.”

He described the jobs and passenger targets in the plan for Shannon as “wishful thinking”.

However, director of the airport, Mary Considine sought to re-assure staff. Addressing the December meeting of Clare County Council, she said: “We know that there is concern amongst some of the staff, but the most important thing to remember is that their terms and conditions are protected under the transfer undertaking legislation.

She said pension rights for staff are also protected: “All their entitlements that they have today will continue after separation.”