Nearly 200 jobs are to be cut at the aircraft maintenance facility at Dublin airport owned by the Swiss firm SR Technics.
Unions at the former Team Aer Lingus plant were informed of the planned redundancies yesterday and a formal announcement is expected today.
The facility, which currently employs 1,200, has struggled to make a profit in the face of increased competition from the Far East and eastern Europe. The company is seeking 195 redundancies as part of a recovery plan for its Irish operation, unveiled to staff representatives and union leaders yesterday.
Siptu national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said last night that if there was to be change at the plant it would have to be by agreement. "There are not going to be any forced solutions," he said.
In a notice to staff issued yesterday, SR Technics Ireland chief executive Declan O'Shea said significant efforts had been made to improve the company's business environment.
However, its lack of progress in this regard coupled with the challenges it faced meant the company was still in need of "fundamental change".
Once employees and their representatives had had time to consider the recovery plan, further meetings would take place with a view to reaching agreement, he said. "A committed workforce willing to be involved in top class customer service and ongoing change for the benefit of us all is crucial to the success of SR Technics Ireland.
"I ask for your support and good will so that we can build on all that is good about our organisation and become a viable, profitable company," Mr O'Shea said.
"Major concern" about the job cuts was expressed by the chairman of the Fingal Development Board.
Ciarán Byrne, who is also a Labour member of Fingal County Council, said the loss of almost 200 jobs would be very damaging for north Dublin. He hoped everything possible would be done to minimise the number of redundancies.
SR Technics acquired the facility for €47 million last year from FLS Aerospace, which had in turn taken over Team Aer Lingus in December 1998.
About 130 staff were made redundant last year and it is understood severance terms similar to those available then will be on offer again. Owned by investment groups 3i and Star Capital, SR Technics is the former technical support division of the now-defunct Swissair.
About 600 craft workers at the Dublin plant have been in dispute with the company for some time over a pay claim. Unions have sought clarification on a Labour Court recommendation issued in June which substantially backed the company's position.
