SIPTU WILL today decide if it is to accept an invitation from the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) to take part in talks over a pay dispute which has resulted in the threat of strikes at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports this week.
Siptu members have served strike notice on the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) to come into effect between 4am and noon next Thursday at all three airports. The dispute relates to the payment of increments to staff.
While the union is in dispute with the DAA over the issue of increments, its leadership has not sanctioned Thursday’s industrial action. However it is likely that it will today accept the LRC invitation in an attempt to resolve the issue. The invitation has already been accepted by the DAA which runs the three airports.
The industrial action committee of the airport branch is also expected to meet today to decide whether or not to go ahead with Thursday’s protest.
The dispute centres on the decision of the DAA not to pay increases under the national wage deal and to withhold annual increments which, Siptu said, constituted a key part of the pay structure.
Siptu president Jack O’Connor has urged the DAA to “act sensibly” and comply with existing agreements by paying the increments which fell due and allowing any issues of concern to them to be progressed through the agreed procedure.
The DAA said it has not refused to pay the increments. The company said it had “paused” the payment of any salary increases pending a cost recovery programme.
