SIPTU meets Aer Lingus to discuss sell-off concerns

SIPTU officials are meeting Aer Lingus management in Dublin today to discuss their concerns surrounding the planned privatisation of the national airline.

The union's members have already voted to engage in strike action if the sell-off goes ahead without a number of issues being addressed.

SIPTU is concerned about possible job cuts, an erosion in working terms and conditions and a massive deficit in the Aer Lingus pension fund.

Management is expected to put forward proposals for addressing these concerns at today's talks.

However, speaking ahead of the meeting, SIPTU's Christy McQuillan was pessimistic about the prospects for progress.

He said it was difficult to be hopeful as the two sides were "oceans apart" on the key issues.