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SIPTU remains opposed to Aer Lingus privatisation

SIPTU 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.

“Not least because it seems the Government is going to implement this decision in advance of a full public examination of the issues by the all-party Joint Oireachtas Committee on transport this Thursday.

“As well as that, there are elements of the Minister’s proposal which are unclear at this point in time, such as the percentage shareholding that the Government intends to retain, and how such a retained shareholding could protect national interests or those of our members. Nor was the Minister able to outline the timing of any floatation. He left us in no doubt that this was not a matter for him.

“For our part we left him with the clear understanding that no meaningful engagement had taken place between management and unions to date, and that serious issues remain to be resolved in advance of privatisation such as job security and pensions.

“Our members have balloted overwhelmingly to protect themselves by industrial action should the company proceed unilaterally and without agreement on these core issues.”