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Aer Lingus - Privatisation No Solution
SIPTU welcomes outcome of exploratory talks at Labour Court on Aer Lingus Dispute
27.02.2007Following exploratory talks in the Labour Court this afternoon, the Court has undertaken to begin an investigation into the dispute at Aer Lingus, starting Thursday evening, March 1 and working through to Friday, March 2, with a view to issuing a recommendation on Monday, March 5, 2007.
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SIPTU will attend Labour Court talks but warns that stoppages may go ahead if Aer Lingus tries to force through cutbacks
27.02.2007In a statement after a two-and-a-half hour meeting of SIPTU’s Aer Lingus shop stewards at Dublin Airport today, the Union’s National Industrial, Secretary, Michael Halpenny issued the following statement.
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Labour Court intervenes in Aer Lingus Dispute
27.02.2007The Labour Court has intervened in the Aer Lingus dispute, inviting SIPTU and the company to attend talks tomorrow. The company has threatened to introduce new work practices from Thursday, despite a warning from SIPTU that it will respond with industrial action if members conditions of employment are changed unilaterally.
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SIPTU tells Aer Lingus to stop breaking agreements to allow for talks
23.02.2007SIPTU completely rejects the latest attempts by Aer Lingus management to spin themselves out of the hole they have dug for the airline, the workers and the traveling public by trying to load all the blame onto the Union.
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Media reports of Aer Lingus workers' pay and conditions remain unconfirmed
19.02.2007Recent media reports of Aer Lingus workers’ pay and conditions remain unconfirmed, according to SIPTU’s National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny.
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Aer Lingus workers vote in favour of industrial action
12.02.2007SIPTU members at Aer Lingus have voted by an overwhelming majority for industrial action up to and including strike action. The Union's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, said “this shows a very clear determination on the part of Union members to defend their agreements and to defend themselves against unilateral attacks by the Aer Lingus management on their agreed pay and conditions.”
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"It should never have come to this!" - response to ruling on Ryanair's bid to take over Aer Lingus
21.12.2006Responding to the European Commission's ruling that Ryanair's proposed €1.4bn takeover of Aer lingus would raise serious competition concerns, SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, said "it should never have come to this."
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The case against privatisation
On November 17. 2004 the Taoiseach told the Dail, “I am not just going to click my fingers because right wing economists believe we should privatise. We are an island nation, heavily dependant on trade, overseas investment and tourism. There are very important strategic issues which have to be satisfactorily resolved."
A lot has happened since that Dail statement and in the year of Aer Lingus’s 70th birthday, the national carrier is set to be delivered to the private sector, where shareholder interest will be paramount over any lingering concerns that the Taoiseach has for the national interest in this open island economy.
Government should buy back Aer Lingus Shares
10.10.2006SIPTU National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny has called on the Government to buy back sufficient shares in Aer Lingus to prevent a predatory takeover by Ryanair. "There is no point in the Government standing by and wringing its hands, like bystanders at a mugging," he said.
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Union President says takeover of Aer Lingus will be bad for the country
05.10.2006“The threatened takeover of Aer Lingus by Ryanair vindicates SIPTU’s stand in opposing the privatisation of our national airline from the outset”, said SIPTU General President Jack O’Connor, in response to the announcement by Ryanair’s Chief Executive Michael O’Leary that his company had acquired over 16 per cent of Aer Lingus and was making a bid for total control.
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Aer Lingus ballot extended ahead of flotation go-ahead
12.09.2006“In the Government’s rush to sell our national air line at bargain basement prices, it has proven predictably difficult to finalise a number of important local issues with the workforce and consequently we are having to extend the SIPTU ballot until next week”, the union’s National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny said this afternoon.
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Taoiseach should call a halt to sale of Aer Lingus
28.08.2006It’s still not too late for the Taoiseach to intervene in the proposed sale of Aer Lingus, according to SIPTU National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny. “This is a bad value proposition and a bad call,” said Mr. Halpenny. “It will do nothing for the employees, the customer or the tax payer."
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Union welcomes Aer Lingus management's clarification on Labour Court Recommendation
04.08.2006SIPTU's Aer Lingus Branch Organiser, Christy McQuillan said he welcomed Aer Lingus management's clarification of its attitude to the recent Labour Court Recommendation by confirming that it accepts the recommendation in its totality. "Now that Aer Lingus management has clarified its position, our Branch Committee will be able to consider the full implications of the Labour Court Recommendation and advise our members accordingly," he said.
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Aer Lingus management should clarify Labour Court recommendation
03.08.2006SIPTU has called on Aer Lingus management to clarify if it is prepared to accept the Labour Court Recommendation for significant improvements in pay and conditions. The Union's Aer Lingus Branch shop stewards decided to seek the clarification after management appeared to be setting preconditions on the proposals earlier today.
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Independent poll shows majority against privatising Aer Lingus
31.03.2006The results of an RTE opinion poll showed 52.79% of voters were against the privatisation of Aer Lingus – 43.03% were in favour and 4.18% remained undecided.
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Protest meeting at Dublin Airport attended by over 500 members
06.07.2006Over 500 SIPTU members at Aer Lingus took part in a protest meeting at Dublin, Shannon and Cork this morning over the privatisation of the air line. Representatives of the Union’s cabin crew, cleaning, catering, administration and baggage handling grades were all in attendance.
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SIPTU celebrates Aer Lingus birthday with music, dance and a commitment to continue the fight against privatisation.
23.05.2006SIPTU members marched through Dublin airport today with a samba band, jazz quarter and banners poclaiming ‘No to Privatisation’. Labour TDs Sean Ryan, Roisin Shortall and Joe Costello participated, along with Sinn Fein deputy Sean Crowe.
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SIPTU to celebrate 70th anniversary of Aer Lingus
19.05.2006SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny has written to every TD and Senator inviting them to attend the Union’s celebration of the national airline’s seventieth birthday next Monday - May 22, 2006
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Submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport
19.04.2006Aer Lingus is undeniably an essential part of our Island Nation’s economic infrastructure. It is a strategic economic asset which has been an essential component of our economic development and an important factor in attracting and driving the flow of inward investment over recent decades to the economic benefit of regions such as the Mid-west and the country as a whole.
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Golden share in Aer Lingus may be invalid under EU law
10.04.2006SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny has written to the Department of Transport to request urgent clarification on whether the Government’s intentions to retain a ‘golden share’ in Aer Lingus is valid under EU competition law.
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Submission on Aer Lingus privatisation to Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport
05.04.2006SIPTU will be making its submission to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport hearing into the Government’s decision to privatise Aer Lingus at 9.30 am tomorrow, Thursday, April 6th.
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Decision to sell Aer Lingus shifts focus to industrial relations
04.04.2006The Government’s decision to sell Aer Lingus means the focus has shifted to industrial relations at the airline, said SIPTU’s National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny. “The statement from the Government on its decision to sell Aer Lingus by way of an IPO is short on detail and high on aspiration - but it doesn’t detract from the fact that this is a very bad day for Aer Lingus workers and the country,” he said.
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SIPTU remains opposed to Aer Lingus privatisation
03.04.2006SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny said after this evening’s lengthy meeting with Transport Minister Martin Cullen that the union “remains fundamentally convinced that the proposed privatisation of AerLingus is bad for the company, bad for the workforce and bad for the country.
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Some comments on RTE's opinion poll on the privatisation of Aer Lingus
31.03.2006Here are some of the comments which voters included when voting on the RTE opinion poll on the priatisation of Aer Lingus.
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Aer Lingus members vote in favour of industrial action
30.03.2006Aer Lingus members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action should management proceed with privatisation of the airline without agreement, announced SIPTU’s National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny. 94% of members voted in favour of industrial action.
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SIPTU outlines core issues of concern to CEO Dermot Mannion
In a letter to Aer Lingus' Chief Executive Officer, Dermot Mannion, on March 29, SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny outlined the core issues of concerns to our members as follows:
Concern at possible decision on Aer Lingus prior to consultation
28.03.2006SIPTU members are extremely surprised at comments made by the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, on the radio this morning that he hopes to proceed to a Cabinet decision on the future of Aer Lingus next week, the union’s National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny said today. Members are to conclude a protective ballot for industrial action on Thursday.
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Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport to meet over Aer Lingus
23.03.2006The decision by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport to meet and examine all aspects of the proposed sale of Aer Lingus has been welcomed by SIPTU, the company’s largest union. “We welcome the decision by the committee, which will provide an opportunity for a badly needed open discussion on the implications for the economy, the travelling public and the company’s employees, of the proposed sale of a majority share holding in the national airline”, SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny said today.
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Picket at Department of Transport over Aer Lingus privatisation proposals
16.03.2006SIPTU members in Aer Lingus picketed the Department of Transport in Kildare Street, Dublin, from 12.30pm until 1.30pm in protest at the proposal to privatise Aer Lingus. SIPTU National Industrial Secretary Michael Halpenny said, “it is ironic that Government Ministers are flying out all over the world this week on our national airline to promote the ’Shamrock’ in the best of all social, cultural and economic senses, only to return next week with the apparent intention of selling the ‘Shamrock’ on Aer Lingus planes to the highest bidder.”
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Motion to Joint Oreachtas Committee on Transport
That the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Transport agrees to carry out an examination of all aspects of the proposed sale of Aer Lingus and to hear the views of interested parties on the best way forward in respect of the national economy, the travelling public, the company, the taxpayer and the workforce.
Proposed: Roisin Shortall TD
Date: March 15, 2006
SIPTU begins protective ballot in Aer Lingus over privatisation
15.03.2006SIPTU is to begin balloting members in Aer Lingus, following the last of the general meetings with members in Cork this evening. National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, has also written to TDs, senators and councillors today updating them on the situation and seeking their support for the campaign to keep the national airline in public ownership.
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SIPTU members in Shannon endorse protective strike ballot
14.03.2006Over 150 of SIPTU’s 200 members at Aer Lingus in Shannon agreed unanimously to endorse a decision to hold a protective ballot for industrial action tonight in the event that the national airline is privatised. SIPTU members at Aer Lingus in Cork are holding a meeting at 5pm tomorrow at the airport to discuss the situation.
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Aer Lingus workers to ballot for industrial action
10.03.2006Following a meeting of SIPTU's Aer Lingus members in Dublin Airport on March 9, the Union's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny said "over 500 members were in attendance and there was a long discussion about the issues facing workers in the event that the airline is privatised. Most of the contributions to the debate focussed on job security.
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Irish Government can invest in Aer Lingus
09.03.2006MEP Prionsias De Rossa has received written confirmation that the Irish Government can invest in Aer Lingus. SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny said the letter proves beyond doubt that the State can inject capital as a shareholder in Aer Lingus as a public company, provided it conforms with the 'market economy investor principle'.
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On-Line Petition
09.03.2006If you would like to participate in SIPTU's campaign to help save Aer Lingus from privatisation why not participate in the Union's on-line petition. Just follow the instructions on the next page
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ICTU writes to Minister Cullen
09.03.2006David Begg, General Secretary of ICTU has written to the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen following the meeting between the Minister and the Aer Lingus Group of Unions on March 2, 2006.
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Letter to elected public representatives
06.03.2006On March 3, 2006, SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, wrote to all elected public representatives about the Union's Aer Lingus anti-privatisation campaign as follows:
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Minister Cullen meets unions on Aer Lingus
02.03.2006Following a meeting of SIPTU shop stewards this morning about the possibility of a part privatisation of Aer Lingus , the ICTU Group of Unions in Aer Lingus met Transport Minister, Martin Cullen this afternoon to outline their concerns.
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No Privatisation of Aer Lingus
On November 17, 2004, the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern told the Dail:
“I’m not just going to click my fingers because some right-wing economists believes we should privatise. We’re an island nation, heavily dependent on trade, overseas investment and tourism. There are very important strategic issues which have to be satisfactorily resolved.”Former Taoiseach, Garrett Fitzgerald stated:
“An island like Ireland, dependent to an almost unique degree on air services for access to and from the rest of the world, has a need for a national airline with a wide remit” (Irish Times, July 12, 2003)Both of them are right!
SIPTU steps up campaign to save Aer Lingus
02.03.2006SIPTU is to call general meetings of its members in Aer Lingus for next week following an emergency meeting of shop stewards today, to save Aer Lingus. These meetings will brief members on developments regarding Government policy towards the national airline, including the meeting with the Minister for Transport, Martin Cullen, this afternoon.
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Aer Lingus - a new flight path (pdf, 368 kb)
This pamphlet sets out the alternatives to selling off our national airline and examines the ICTU proposal for a State Holding Company to manage the assets of Aer Lingus.
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