Siptu shop stewards at Aer Lingus are demanding the chief executive Mr Willie Walsh lifts the September 14th deadline for the acceptance of mass redundancy package so proper negotiations can take place.
Around 50 shop stewards representing 2,400 workers meet management this afternoon for the first time since the company formally announced its intention to shed over 1,200 jobs over the next three years.
Speaking after the meeting SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Mr Michael Halpenny described the situation as "gun to the head negotiations at a time when even management agrees there is no immediate crisis or threat to the national carrier."
"The Government, as the principal shareholder, has primary responsibility to ensure that 1,325 reasonably secure and well paid jobs are not shed at the whim of a badly thought out, purely commercially driven plan, which has no regard to the wider community interest," Mr Halpenny added.
Earlier today the Siptu branch secretary Mr Christy McQuillan warned: "The union does not accept there is a need to sacrifice large numbers of jobs."
Siptu members have already voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action and despite its warning that it will take action if the company acts unilaterally, management says implementation of the plan has already begun.