This article is from page 8 of the 2006-07-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
CALLS have been made for management and unions at Aer Lingus to pull out all the stops to prevent next Thursday’s planned industrial action at Shannon Airport.
Fine Gael Councillor, Madeleine Taylor Quinn has warned that the action risks causing travel chaos if it cannot be averted.
Aer Lingus flights arriving or departing from Shannon and Dublin Airports between 9.45 and 11am will be affected on Thursday if staff walk off the job in order to attend a meeting, in protest at unresolved issues over the State airline’s privatisation plans.
Councillor Taylor Quinn says if tourists to this region are caught up in the dispute at Shannon, their visitor experience here will commence badly.
Olivia Mitchell TD, Fine Gael Spokesperson for Transport, also called on Aer Lingus workers to rethink the threatened stoppage.
“Such a protest can only cause huge inconvenience and stress for passengers, further endanger Aer Lingus and make it less attractive for potential investors,” she said.
The deputy added that “the workers are naturally concerned for the future of the airline, but there is an on-going process of negotiation between their unions and the management of the company and this process must continue. Industrial action at the height of the summer sends out the wrong message. It is one of unreliability to its customers and to its future investors”.
SIPTU has planned a compulsory meeting of members on Thursday. This would mean passengers at Shannon and Dublin would not be able to check-in, board flights, or put their luggage on the plane. Significant disruption and delays are expected as a result of the action. One union member predicted that it would “take Aer Lingus most of the day to catch up.”
SIPTU is taking the action in relation to a pay and conditions deal which the company is offering to its 3,800 staff. The deal includes lump sum payments, pay increases, contributions to the pension fund and guarantees about job numbers in return for co-operation with privatisation.
SIPTU national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny said that Shannon and Dublin “will definitely be involved while there is a possibility that staff in Cork may be involved as well.”
It’s expected that the airline will put in place contingency plans to lessen the effect of the strike but major disruption is expected to ensue.