SIPTU has warned Aer Lingus management there must be full agreement from the workforce before plans to restructure the national carrier can be put in place.
Following a meeting between the board of Aer Lingus and unions about the restructuring plan for the company, SIPTU's national industrial secretary, Mr Michael Halpenny said: "This is a highly profitable company, turned around thanks to the effort and sacrifices of the workforce."
Mr Michael Halpenny, SIPTU
Mr Halpenny said: "It is not good enough for management to think they can simply imitate Ryanair or EasyJet and boost profits by sacking more workers and exploiting those left behind."
Also speaking after the meeting, IMPACT Assistant General Secretary Ms Christina Carney said the union had told management that it would not accept the imposition of change without agreement with the appropriate trade unions.
"Reported proposals to slash 1,300 jobs would be excessive and IMPACT will resist compulsory redundancies and any attempt to impose change without consultation and agreement," she said.
Mr Halpenny said Aer Lingus is the national airline and "besides short haul runs to Europe it has a number of major strategic tasks to perform for the country — such as the economic linkages which are so vital to investment, including the provision of freight services to ensure Ireland remains an attractive location for foreign hi-tech investment."
Plans to restructure Aer Lingus include remodelling the company to that of a low-cost airline like Ryanair and the voluntary redundancy of 1,300 staff.
Mr Halpenny said: "We have no interest in participating in a rationalisation plan whose main purpose is to facilitate privatisation and enhancing the wealth of a few individuals."
"It is the company's employees who have transformed the commercial fortunes of Aer Lingus — contrary to experience generally in the airline industry internationally — and making it one of the most profitable airlines in Europe with projected profits of nearly €100m this year," he added.
Last night the IMPACT and SIPTU unions found an unlikely ally in the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, who also said compulsory redundancies were not desirable.
IMPACT, which represents Aer Lingus cabin crew, middle managers, and pilots, said today that it had arranged a series of information meetings with members in Dublin, Cork, Shannon and London.