This article is from page 5 of the 2006-05-16 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 5 JPG
THE Labour Relations Commission (LRC) has imposed a news “black-out” on talks aimed at overcoming the impasse on the €30 million survival plan for Shannon Airport.
The talks commenced earlier this month with a Labour Court recommendation urging the parties to conclude the talks within a two-month period. Talks on restructuring commenced last summer, but were marred by accusation on both sides on the level of engagement. Before the LRC talks commenced earlier this month, no discussions had taken place on the substantive issues over the past nine months.
Fine Gael deputy Pat Breen said yesterday, “Obviously, if the LRC has imposed a blackout, they obviously mean business and we hope that all sides can produce a resolution beneficial to the future of Shannon.”
Shannon-based councillor Patricia McCarthy said, “Megaphone negotiations can have a negative effect and, on such a sensitive issue, I think it is advisable that a black-out has been put in place to avoid expectations being played-up or down. I believe, however, that there is a need to advise staff on how the talks are progressing.”
Both sides were observing the blackout and have declined to give any detail on progress.
Throughout the talks process, SIPTU has outlined its opposition to plans by the DAA to cut the workforce of 520 through 200 voluntary redundancies by outsourcing a number of areas of work at Shannon.
As part of the survival plan, the DAA is offering sums of up to €10,000 for the workers that remain. The voluntary redundancy package gives staff with over 24 years’ experience a €100,000 pay-off, and entitles workers to their company pensions at 55.
The DAA’s director for change, John Horgan, has previously expressed confidence that if the proposals were put to the workers at Shannon, a majority would vote in favour of the deal. Both the DAA and SIPTU declined to comment ahead of today’s talks.