SIPTU action to disrupt airport services

EU Ministers arriving into Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports will be affected by Aer Rianta's SIPTU members staging industrial action for two hours on January 22.

The two-hour action between 8am and 10am, coincides with a top level conference to be hosted by the Department of Justice, Equality and Law Reform on that date.

SIPTU members man the fire service at the airport, and also include police and clerical staff.

SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny said that the action should minimise the impact on the travelling public.

Halpenny said today : "Today's decision arises from the ongoing failure of Aer Rianta and the Department of Transport to confirm reasonable guarantees on jobs, terms and conditions of employment and pensions, sought by the employees."

A public transport strike was narrowly averted last week after members of the National Bus and Railway Union voted to rejoin talks with the Department of Transport.

Newspaper reports at the weekend indicated that the Taoiseach's intervention with some trade union leaders played a part in this.