SIPTU - The Union for All Workers - Printer Friendly Style

Decision to sell Aer Lingus shifts focus to industrial relations

“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.

“Once again the Minister has mandated Aer Lingus to resolve the key issues raised by the trade unions during the consultation process, but our experience to date has been that management are dragging their heels in addressing the issues of concern to our members.

“Aer Lingus employees have worked through the change programmes to return the airline to profitability and now they can’t even get assurances about their jobs.

“There are several unresolved issues about job security and pension provisions and I’m not sure that there is time to resolve them before Aer Lingus is to be put up for sale.

“Aer Lingus is operating in a very competitive environment.  Through public ownership - and the efforts of the workforce - the airline has become profitable again so what more can privatisation bring to it?

“If Aer Lingus is so attractive for investors why isn’t it attractive for the State?

“There is a determination on the part of our members to protect their jobs.  If management at Aer Lingus proceed to privatisation without sorting out the concerns of our members, then they run the risk of industrial action, and that seems to be where we are now,” he concluded.