The Taoiseach Brian Cowen has called on a group of aircraft handlers who rejected new work practice reforms at SR Technics to work with management to resolve the situation.
Mr Cowen’s intervention came as around 1,200 posts were threatened at the SR Technics Dublin airport centre after 21 aircraft handlers from the Siptu union rejected new productivity arrangements.
Mr Cowen said: “I believe that if common sense prevails in this situation we can sort it. I would ask employees that they work with their representatives and management over the next 24 hours to sort it out.”
Mr Cowen was speaking in Tullamore today where he was canvassing for the Lisbon Treaty with former taoiseach Garret FitzGerald.
Siptu president Jack O’Connor has said he is confident a deal can be struck safeguarding positions. He said the union had offered to meet employers to resolve differences.
In a statement, the company said the decision by the aircraft handlers to reject the proposals meant it could not sign a new 10-year contract for line maintenance with Aer Lingus.
SR Technics, formerly known as Team Aer Lingus, had said the retention of the contract was vital for its future viability. The company was informed by Aer Lingus last week that if it could not sign up for the contract from the beginning of June it would have to seek alternative arrangements.
Under the proposed work practice reforms, aircraft handlers would have had to operate 12-hour shifts and carry out refuelling work which was previously performed by other personnel.
It is understood that 19 aircraft handlers took part in the vote and that 12 were against the proposals with seven in favour.
The reform plan drawn up at the Labour Relations Commission was accepted by about 200 craft workers at the company, who are represented by the trade union Unite, in a ballot yesterday.
Last night the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, expressed her concern at the situation in SR Technics.
