SIPTU - The Union for All Workers - Printer Friendly Style

Protest meeting at Dublin Airport attended by over 500 members

Over 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.

The meeting was addressed by Union General President, Jack O'Connor who told members that the Union remained opposed to privatisation.

Michael Halpenny, National Industrial Secretary, said he believed today's protest meeting was necessary because a number of issues still remained to be resolved such as job security - including the ratio of temporary employees to full time employees; pensions, pay and reward and workers' shares.

He said the protest was a ‘minimal’ response, but a very important one and acknowledged the commitment of the workers to the Union’s campaign against the privatisation of the air line.

SIPTU was conscious of the disruptive effect that the meeting would have on some members of the travelling public, and Michael Halpenny thanked everyone passing through Dublin Airport this morning for their patience and understanding.

The Union had agreed to a request from management to allow incoming passengers to disembark so that no one was left sitting on an aircraft for the duration of the meeting.