Over 160 Aer Lingus workers at Shannon airport last night unanimously endorsed a Siptu proposal to ballot for industrial action in response to Government moves to privatise the national airline.
At a meeting of Aer Lingus workers at the Great Southern Hotel in Shannon, the workers voted to join their Dublin colleagues in balloting for industrial action "in the event of Aer Lingus management unilaterally moving on core issues of concern to members such as their terms and conditions of employment, job security and pensions".
The workers also endorsed Siptu's anti-privatisation campaign.
After the meeting, Siptu's national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny said: "There was a unanimous view that the State should invest in the airline."
Mr Halpenny said balloting amongst Dublin and Shannon members would commence tomorrow and claimed the Government "is all over the place" in its plan to privatise Aer Lingus.
At the weekend, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said there would be no change in the Government's decision to privatise Aer Lingus.
However, Mr Halpenny said last night: "We believe that the decision is flawed and doesn't stand up to close scrutiny. The airline stands to receive €400 million through the privatisation. That will buy you four wide-bodied aircraft. Are we going to hand over the national airline for four planes? It doesn't stack up."
Mr Halpenny said last night that he is still awaiting a response from the Department of Transport to explain the claim by Minister for Transport Martin Cullen that the Government would be "immediately" challenged by the European Commission were it to invest in Aer Lingus.
The union has provided Mr Cullen's department with a letter from former EU commissioner, Mario Monti, which says the Government is entitled to make a capital investment in Aer Lingus.
Mr Halpenny said the union is endeavouring to hold a second meeting with company management. Mr Cullen told the Dáil last week that Aer Lingus would have "no chance of survival" as a State-owned airline and reiterated the Government's plans to proceed with the privatisation in the coming months.
l Siptu has circulated a draft version of the motion it intends to put to Aer Lingus members this week. The union wants to hold a protective ballot for industrial action in protest at possible privatisation of the airline, writes Emmet Oliver.
The wording includes the following: "Protective ballot for industrial action to be effected in the event of the employer, Aer Lingus, proceeding towards privatisation unilaterally and without agreement on the connected core issues affecting the members job security, terms and conditions of employment."
