Airport workers threaten strike along with CIÉ

Virtually all public transport faces the threat of stoppages next week.

SIPTU members at CIE are due to mount a one-day strike next Thursday in protest at the Government’s plans to break up the company and privatise 25% of Dublin Bus routes.

Reports this morning said SIPTU members at Aer Rianta were considering also mounting a one-day stoppage on Thursday.

SIPTU said yesterday that the action was a protest against the lack of meaningful progress during talks with the Department of Transport about the future of Dublin Bus, Bus Éireann and Iarnrod Éireann.

The strike is designed to disrupt a meeting of OECD education ministers and a gathering of EU diplomats, both of which are due to take place in Dublin next week.

Representatives of SIPTU workers at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports will meet later today to consider mounting an action on Thursday next week.

The action is being considered to attack the plans of transport minister Seamus Brennan to establish the three airports as separate competing airports.

The airport strikes are in protest at the Government’s plans to divide the airport company into three, independent entities.