Catering dispute may disrupt services at Dublin Airport

Dublin Airport could be facing disruption similar to that seen at London Heathrow last week following a vote for industrial action by 200 catering staff.

The staff are employed by Gate Gourmet, the same company at the centre of last week's chaos in Heathrow.

The firm's Irish workers have voted for industrial action after being told that the company cannot afford to award them pay increases due under the Sustaining Progress agreement.

SIPTU said Gate Gourmet had also threatened to introduce new terms of employment without securing the agreement of the workers.

The matter has been referred to the Labour Relations Commission, but SIPTU said a strike could be on the cards if the company does not back down.

Gate Gourmet services several airlines in Dublin, including British Airways, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, Lufthansa and City Jet.