This article is from page 15 of the 2006-03-21 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 15 JPG
UNIONS at Shannon Airport and Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) management are to meet for talks at the Labour Court this week over the Authority’s €30 million “survival plan” for the airport.
The DAA’s Director for Change, John Horgan confirmed to The Clare People that the two sides were to meet at the Labour Court next Friday.
“I would not expect the talks to last more than one day and the Labour Court would be expected to issue its recommendation in a number of weeks, so I’m hopeful that the workers at Shannon will be able to vote on the deal sometime in April,” said Mr Horgan.
All Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) workers are to benefit in the deal. Those workers who opt not to take voluntary redundancy and remain with the company are to also receive “substantial payments” from the DAA.
“I believe that the majority of workers will vote in favour of the deal. It is a very attractive offer,” said Mr Horgan.
“This has been the most frustrating industrial relations issue that I have ever been involved in.
“The unions know and we know that most of the workers will vote in favour of the deal and we have had many employees come to us directly to say that they are in favour of the package,” he said.
In a recent letter to union members, SIPTU’s National Industrial secretary, Mick Halpenny criticised the company’s plans to outsource.
“We have already advised the company that we will not be party to such an Irish Ferries type fiasco, and our steadfast opposition to the company’s outsourcing/displacement programme should come as no surprise to anyone and we offer no apologies for that.”