THE DISPUTE over work practice reforms at the aircraft maintenance company SR Technics, which had threatened the future of the plant which employs about 1,200 people, has been resolved.
About 20 aircraft handlers, who had rejected work practice changes in a ballot on Friday, yesterday agreed to new proposals put forward by their union, Siptu, which will see the issue referred to the Labour Court or another third party for binding arbitration.
The company, which is based at Dublin airport, had said it needed to reach agreement with various categories of staff at the facility by the end of the bank holiday weekend to allow it sign a new 10-year line maintenance contract with Aer Lingus.
Aer Lingus had told the company that unless it was in a position to sign the new contract by today it would have to seek alternative arrangements.
SR Technics has lost three other contracts with Aer Lingus over recent months.
In a statement yesterday SR Technics said that it was very pleased to confirm "that it has now reached agreement with all unions and employees on the new working arrangements in order to fulfil its 10-year line maintenance contract with Aer Lingus".
It is understood that at a meeting yesterday the aircraft handlers voted by 16 votes to two in favour of the proposal for binding arbitration put forward by Siptu.
Under the proposed work practice changes the aircraft handlers, who currently operate tow trucks which move aircraft, will also be responsible for supervising refuelling operations.
Siptu branch organiser Pat Ward said the aircraft handlers were willing to be trained to undertake the task while awaiting the outcome of the arbitration.
"I would also like to point out that these men have undertaken additional productivity in the past without any monetary reward. They have had to forgo the 7 per cent increase due to them under the Sustaining Progress agreement and the last phase of Towards 2016, which was worth another 2.5 per cent, making a cumulative total of 10 per cent.
"This latest change was introduced at the last minute in negotiations which had focused on the craft group of workers and we were given very little time to deal with the issue. Fortunately we have now succeeded in resolving the impasse and helped secure the future viability of the plant and its 1,200 workers, many of whom are also members of Siptu," he said.
Over the weekend the Taoiseach, Brian Cowen, had urged all the parties to work together to resolve the dispute.
About 200 craft workers at the company, who are represented by the trade union Unite, had agreed to work practices in their areas on Friday.