Unions warn of strike if kept out of talks by Aer Lingus
Unions last night threatened immediate strike action at Aer Lingus if the airline proceeds with plans to sideline workers' representatives and deal directly with staff on cost-cutting negotiations that could lead to the outsourcing of hundreds of jobs.
The row came as the Government ruled out any possibility of using its 40pc stake in the airline to prevent Aer Lingus from pressing ahead with its outsourcing plans.
A senior executive yesterday said the national carrier was determined not to be "sidetracked into long-running processes" and revealed plans to deal directly with staff after unions accused it of harbouring plans to railroad agreement on drastic outsourcing measures.
But last night, SIPTU warned that the prospect of strike action would become more immediate if the airline tried to bypass unions.
Reports have suggested the airline is considering contracting out the jobs of 1,300 ground staff employed at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports to make €100m savings.
Director of corporate affairs Enda Corneille said the "urgency" of the situation was "pretty clear" after the carrier announced it would review its operations after suffering half year losses of €22m.
SIPTU general president Jack O'Connor has already warned that any major outsourcing plan would "torpedo" a national agreement because his members would not vote for it.
Yesterday, he sent a letter to Aer Lingus CEO Dermot Mannion expressing "extreme concern" at the possibility of outsourcing and seeking a meeting at the earliest opportunity.
Last night a spokesperson for the union said: "if it [Aer lingus] plans to work outside third party mediators, who are endorsed by social partnership, it would be in breach of national agreements."
"The airline can't have it both ways -- to be part of an agreement and work outside it. If it gives unions the two fingers, there won't be many places to go," he continued.
Sidetracked
However, Mr Corneille said it would not rule out negotiations through third party mediators, although it would prefer direct engagement with workers.
"We can't be sidetracked into dilute issues and processes and not end up having our measures implemented," said Mr Corneille.
"It is not a snub to any of the bodies or a statement of intent. When we are bringing out our initiatives, our preference will be to deal directly with staff and not become embroiled in long running processes."
There were calls last night for the State to use its one-quarter share in Aer Lingus to fight for the retention of jobs following speculation that all ground staff may be made redundant.
However, Finance Minister Brian Lenihan confirmed the Government will not be using its stake to intervene.
"Generally speaking from a government point of view Aer Lingus is a company which has a minority State shareholding.
"The State cannot direct the business of Aer Lingus any further. It's a matter for the board of Aer Lingus to decide what's in the best interest of the company.
"There are real constraints on the extent to which the Irish State can tell Aer Lingus how to run their business. Yes, we kept a shareholding to safeguard those slots at Heathrow and for other strategic reasons, but we can't interfere in their day-to-day business," he said.
A spokesperson for the Department of Enterprise declined to comment.
- Anne-Marie Walsh
