This article is from page 7 of the 2006-03-14 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 7 JPG
AER LINGUS staff at Shannon last night agreed to ballot for industrial action to oppose plans to sell the airline.
In a packed meeting at the Great Southern Hotel, almost 150 SIPTU members voted in favour of a motion in favour of holding a “protective ballot”, in the event of the company “moving towards privatisation unilaterally and without agreement on the core issues of concern to the members.”
The members also passed a vote in support of the union’s anti-privatisation campaign.
After the meeting, SIPTU’s Tony Carroll said that the members “expressed serious concern about what the future holds for everyone in a privatisation situation.”
He said the issues that were of greatest concern included job security, rewards and recognition, core numbers and other matters from the central agenda of the business plan.
It is feared that there could be widespread job-cuts after a majority stake in the airline is sold to raise an anticipated €800 million.
This could happen within three months.
For the Shannon staff, a particular issue of concern are work practice changes that would flow from a privatisation.
SIPTU has 200 members in Shannon, mostly in the ground operations and cargo sections.
“We will be going ahead with the ballot from tomorrow (Wednesday) and we would expect to have the result by Friday week,” the SIPTU official said.
The meeting was addressed by Tony Carroll and SIPTU National Secretary, Michael Halpenny.
Last week, 300 Aer Lingus staff at Dublin Airport also agreed to a protective ballot for industrial action.
At that meeting, the Dublin members decided not to allow the airline’s chief executive, Tom Mannion, address them on the planned privatisation of the company.
A union delegation has met with Transport Minister Martin Cullen, who told them that he had directed the State airline’s chief executive to discuss the implications of any planned flotation with them.
SIPTU’s financial advisers have indicated the Government may have to sell up to 60 per cent of the airline and retain a 25 per cent stake.
The remaining 15 per cent is owned by a collective employee share trust.