Shannon workers vote for ballot in Aer Lingus row

Aer Lingus workers at Shannon have joined their Dublin counterparts and voted unanimously to ballot for industrial action over plans to privatise the airline.

More than 150 of Siptu’s 200 members agreed to endorse a decision to hold a protective ballot for industrial action tonight in the event that the national airline is privatised.

Union members at Aer Lingus in Cork are holding a meeting at the airport later today to discuss the situation.

“Members are particularly concerned over the impact privatisation will have on security of employment and pension rights if it goes ahead,” said Siptu national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny.

He has also written to the assistant secretary responsible for aviation at the Department of Transport, John Murphy, enquiring about state investment in Aer Lingus under EU rules, and to Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion, seeking clarification on pensions, including indexation, job security and other outstanding industrial relations issues.

Last week more than 500 Siptu members in Dublin voted in favour of a ballot for industrial action.

The craft group of unions in Aer Lingus is meeting at 12.30pm tomorrow in the ALSAA building to discuss the privatisation proposals. The ballot for industrial action is due to take place once the consultation meetings conclude.