Aer Lingus privatisation - Unions need job security reassurance

Expectations that the Cabinet would fully endorse the plan to privatise Aer Lingus were realised at its meeting yesterday, despite serious reservations expressed by SIPTU.

Understandably, the union and its members were very concerned about their future employment, and it remains to be seen whether the Cabinet’s decision to retain a stake of just over 25% in the State airline should reassure them on this issue.

Government assurances should - indeed, must - assuage the union’s worry, especially as workers have a 15% shareholding in the company.

Privatisation undoubtedly makes economic sense from the company’s point of view as it wants to expand its fleet at a cost of €2 billion and this move will attract fresh funding.

However, it would be far more sensible to have the unions supporting it and they are, in any case, entitled to reassurances on job security, pensions and outsourcing.

SIPTU does not represent all the workers, and another union at the airline, IMPACT, is amenable to privatisation of the State carrier.

But it, too, while backing the sell-off, produced conditions it wants to see to protect its members.