The following is the text of the letter sent by the Taoiseach to SIPTU general president Mr Jack O'Connor last night. The letter resulted in SIPTU's decision to call off the planned six-hour stoppage at airports on Thursday.
Office of the Taoiseach
15 March 2001
Mr Jack O'Connor
General President
SIPTU
Dear Jack,
I refer to your letter of 15th March. I welcome your statement that SIPTU and its members do not wish to engage in industrial action in the public transport sector as threatened for next Thursday. I have discussed the points raised in your letter with the Minister for Transport, Seamus Brennan, T.D., and our response is set out below.
I confirm that it remains government policy to engage with the trade union movement on all aspects of proposals for change in the State companies.
I note your concern on the need for measures to ensure that standards of employment are protected and that "a race to the bottom" is avoided. I confirm that we will engage with the trade unions on measures to address these concerns.
Secondly, we will, of course, honour the commitment, given by the Minister for Transport in correspondence with the trade unions, regarding a reasonable opportunity for the trade unions and their advisers to examine and respond to financial and other information regarding the restructuring of Aer Rianta within a definite timeframe.
I understand that it has been for some time the Minister's target to publish the legislation before Easter. Given the volume of preparatory work involved and the commitment to provide financial and other information, I understand that the timeframe now envisaged by the Minister involves finalisation of the legislation in time for its introduction to Dail Eireann early after Easter.
I trust that, in the light of these clarifications, you will agree that the planned action in the aviation and public transport sectors on Thursday is not only unnecessary, but positively damaging to the prospects of implementing the agreed procedures for dealing with these important issues.
Yours sincerely,
________________
Taoiseach