O'Connor tries to hold back Aer Rianta workers

national | miscellaneous | press release Friday January 16, 2004 15:41 by SIPTU member - SIPTU

SIPTU Press Release

Strike action is not inevitable if workers concerns are addressed says SIPTU President Jack O'Connor

The General President of SIPTU, Jack O’Connor, has issued a statement today to clarify the union’s position in the Aer Rianta dispute and dispel any confusion that might have arisen in recent days:

“I wish to make it absolutely clear that the limited action scheduled by SIPTU for next Thursday is designed with the sole objective of securing agreement on sustainable measures designed to give effect to the broad, general commitments on job security and terms of employment outlined by the Minister for Transport Seamus Brennan in his letter of January 9th.

“Aer Rianta employees should be able to reasonably expect secure and good quality employment in their company - which is trading profitably, despite one of the lowest landing charge regimes in the EU – given that it operates in an industry expected to double its business in volume terms over the next ten years. But all of this has been put in doubt by the decision to break up Aer Rianta without, as yet, any evidence of a clear business plan or strategy.

“The Minister, in announcing his plans on July 10th last to break up the company, suggested that there were no grounds for concern on the part of the workers. However he only offered commitments in this regard last week. If he believes in the viability of his plans he should be able to substantiate how this commitment can be delivered in tangible terms.

“While SIPTU, in the light of all the available economic advice, is strongly opposed to the break-up of Aer Rianta and is also concerned about the advisability of dismantling the aviation infrastructure of our island economy, we are not and will not be seeking to obstruct the implementation of that decision by means of industrial action. Rather we fully intend to continue to campaign by all the legitimate means at our disposal to persuade the Government to amend its policy.

“The issues, as presented, provide no easy alternatives for the Aer Rianta workers or their unions. But while there are some differences between us as to tactics, there are none, over analysis of the Minister’s plan. I hope we can continue to co-operate in the interests of Aer Rianta employees and workers generally.

“The whole debacle now looming is undesirable, unnecessary and is still avoidable. I would hope that the Minister has sufficient confidence in his plans to outline the means by which the assurances he has given can be sustained, thus avoiding the necessity for industrial action and facilitating an agreement, ultimately, which reconciles the Government’s declared objectives with the interests of workers,” concluded Mr. O’Connor.