[Article] Unions may shut down airports in escalation of campaign

Victor

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Unions may shut down airports in escalation of campaign
From:ireland.com
Monday, 20th October, 2003

Unions opposed to the Government's plans to break up Aer Rianta are planning a shutdown of Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports to coincide with the start of Ireland's EU Presidency next January

The five unions representing Aer Rianta workers meet today to plan a campaign of industrial action in opposition to the plans put forward by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.

This is likely to include smaller-scale work stoppages in the run-up to Christmas and a major escalation designed to embarrass the Government when it takes over the EU Presidency in the New Year.

However, the Minister intends to press ahead with his proposals to create three separate airport authorities, sources indicated last night.

The Cabinet last week approved the head of a bill to implement these proposals, The Irish Times understands.

Air passengers face further industrial relations turbulence over the coming week with the threat of two one-day strikes by most Aer Lingus cabin crew over the bank holiday weekend.

The action by over 1,000 Impact members is expected to cause some disruption in services, although the airline says it plans to continue operating. Intending passengers have been advised to book and travel as normal.

The stoppage could still be averted by the intervention of the Labour Court, which held a special hearing into the dispute yesterday.

Impact members have been operating a work-to-rule since the start of September. Although the airline says it has had "virtually no effect," some flights have been cancelled and others delayed.

The company is refusing to pay cabin crew an outstanding 4 per cent increase under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness unless they offer the greater productivity it is seeking.

The airline wants staff to sell food and drinks on board, to make quicker aircraft "turnarounds" and to start work earlier in return for the PPF payment.

In the Aer Rianta dispute, one union leader yesterday predicted a series of "minor" work stoppages in the run-up to Christmas, after which the industrial action would be "stepped up".

"We'll save most of our energies until the new year, because that's when the EU Presidency kicks in and we can cause most embarrassment to the Government," said Mr Arthur Hall of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU).

Membership of the five unions includes landing, takeoff and fire staff, so any strike would inevitably lead to the closure of affected airports.

Mr Mick Halpenny of SIPTU, the largest union in Aer Rianta, said the Minister's stance had "narrowed our options considerably".

Last night, a spokesman for the Minister said he would address any issues workers had about their employment terms.

Victor

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Brennan urged to engage with Aer Rianta unions
From:ireland.com
Tuesday, 21st October, 2003

The Labour Party has urged the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, to accept a proposal from trade unions representing Aer Rianta workers to enter talks with them on the future of the company.

Ms Roisin Shortall, Labour Party spokeswoman on transport, has also urged unions not to engage in strike action until a compromise has been reached.

"Minister Brennan should accept the invitation from the Aer Rianta group of unions for discussions without preconditions on the future of the company in order to avert industrial action at the company," Ms Shorthall said.

"There are many critical issues posed by the Minister's announcement that he intends to abolish Aer Rianta, not least issues of competition, the status of the Eurobond of the company, the debt-free status of Cork and Shannon airports, cross-subsidisation, and the management contracts the company has with other companies."

Ms Shorthall's comments follow a meeting yesterday of unions opposed to the Government's plans to break up the company.

The five unions representing workers said they would shut down Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports to coincide with the start of Ireland's EU presidency next January in protest over the plans.

Protests are also likely to include smaller-scale work stoppages in the run-up to Christmas as well as major escalation designed to embarrass the Government when it takes over the EU presidency in the New Year.

The first two-hour work stoppage is to take place on Tuesday, November 4th.

However, the Minister intends to press ahead with his proposals to create three separate airport authorities, according to reports last night.

The Cabinet last week approved the heads of a bill to implement the proposals.