Industrial action at Aer Lingus now looks more likely after the SIPTU president Jack O'Connor emerged from a meeting with the Minister for Transport this evening to describe the Government's privatisation plan as dreadful.
Speaking after the two-hour meeting with the Minister for Transport Mr Cullen, Mr O'Connor said nothing positive about the proposed sale of a portion of the airline had emerged.
Worker concerns on pay and job security were not dealt with and that there was now no alternative to industrial action, Mr O'Connor said.
More than 2,000 Aer Lingus staff who are SIPTU members have voted in favour of industrial action if the privatisation goes ahead without consultation.
After the meeting SIPTU's national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny sanction would now be sought from the National Executive Council to serve notice on the airline to. The industrial action would be enacted in the event of any unilateral action by Air Lingus.
The Cabinet is expected to discuss the part privatisation of the airline at the Cabinet meeting tomorrow.