This article is from page 4 of the 2008-04-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 4 JPG
SIPTU members in Aer Lingus have rejected the company’s cost cutting proposals in a secret ballot which concluded yesterday.
A spokesman for the union said it was “clear that intensive local dis- cussions did not reach an acceptable conclusion in all areas of the opera- alo) ae
1,800 SIPTU members involved in check-in, loading and catering op- erations, had a second vote on the company’s proposals in relation to a saving of €10 million in their section
of operations.
The new measures would involve changes to rostering arrangements, including 4am starts, 12 hour shifts and split shifts.
Management set a deadline two weeks ago for the staff to operate the new proceedures or face outsourc- ing or closure of their area of opera- tions.
“While SIPTU regrets the rejection of these proposals, which were rec- ommended for acceptance by shop Stewards, itis clear that our members view them as a step too far, given the changes sought by the company
and profits announced in excess of €80m”, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said.
Meanwhile trade unions represent- ing all the staff at Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airports have condemned proposals to saddle Cork Airport with €113 million of debt.
The DAA/Aer Rianta Group of Unions, which is backed by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, is calling on Transport Minister Noel Dempsey to honour guarantees given to work- ers four years ago when the State Airports Act 2004 was enacted.
These included protecting the com-
mercial viability of all three air- eae
Workers, who had opposed the break up of Aer Rianta and warned that it could make some of the air- ports unviable, are opposed to any measures which leave Shannon and Cork airports unable to call on re- sources generated by the current DAA/Aer Rianta Group.
The Chairman of the Group, Tom- my Guilfoyle, said after a heated meeting in Cork that the consensus was that “the people of Cork and the Midwest Region are being sold short by this misguided policy”’.