Aer Lingus - Time to face pre-election headaches

The privatisation problems of Aer Lingus are the latest in a string of headaches that the Government will have to tackle before the next general election, which is due within the next 15 months.

More than 300 members of SIPTU at Aer Lingus voted unanimously this week to hold a ballot on industrial action over the government plans for the airline.

The union was at pains to stress that this would not mean immediate industrial action. Instead, the ballot was depicted as a protective measure to provide a ready mandate for industrial action in the event of a precipitate decision by either the company or the government without regard to the interests of employees.