Unions defer industrial action vote over Brennan plan

Unions at Aer Rianta have agreed to defer a vote on industrial action over the Government's plan break-up the company.

Unions at Aer Rianta have agreed to defer a vote on industrial action over the Government's plan break-up the company.

The unions, who believe the plan will threaten jobs, have agreed to adopt a ten-point plan seeking clarification from the Government on number of key issues relating to pay and conditions.

They are also demanding an independent aviation consultancy team be set to give what they described as a "critical assessment" of the proposals.

SIPTU, which represents 70 per cent of airport workers, told ireland.comthat the unions remained unconvinced by the economic and social arguments for breaking-up the company.

READ MORE

A spokesman said, however, the unions would defer a ballot on industrial action until the Government has had time to respond to its demands.

The unions are seeking guarantees from the Government that plan will not affect pay and conditions at the airports and that the current pension scheme will be underwritten by the Government.

Over 600 SIPTU workers were briefed by union leaders today in Dublin Airport and similar meetings were held in Cork and Shannon.

There was a unanimous adoption of the 10-point plan by SIPTU members, a spokesman said.

During the meetings the three airports were closed for an hour to all incoming and outgoing flights as union members in airport fire services stopped work.

Aer Rianta said the disruption affected around 26 flights and around 3,000 passengers. However it was advising people to check in as normal but to expect delays.

Ryanair accused SIPTU and other unions of blackmailing the Aer Rianta management and of putting the safety of Irish holidaymakers at risk.

Yesterday Mr Brennan re-stated his conviction that the disbandment plans were the best way to develop the State's main airports, said he was available to meet unions at any time.

He also said he was "very pleased" to hear reports that Ryanair was planning to add 30 routes as a result of the break-up of Aer Rianta.

"I've made it clear that the three airports are going to grow," said the Minister.

"Growing airports means more jobs, not less. I'd ask unions to take part in that growth. That's the best way to secure employment," Mr Brennan said.

The Minister has given a guarantee there will be no threat to jobs or changes in workers' terms and conditions.

Eoin Burke-Kennedy

Eoin Burke-Kennedy

Eoin Burke-Kennedy is Economics Correspondent of The Irish Times