Aer Lingus has been accused of breaching employment legislation by not consulting staff on its business plan and potential privatisation.

Siptu's national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny, has written to the airline's chairman John Sharman to complain about a lack of consultation with staff. He points to the Worker Participation Act which includes provisions relating to "prior consultation at corporate level on major business decisions which might have repercussions for employees".

Siptu said at a meeting on January 30th that it was announced by management that a strategic plan for the company had been approved by the airline's board and passed onto the Department of Transport. Mr Halpenny said this plan clearly also had implications for privatisation.

Siptu said agreements clearly stipulated that relevant information should be provided "in good time" to employees or their trade union bodies, particularly if they related to matters which could have a significant impact on the interests of employees.

"There appears to be a substantial and critical breach of the company's obligation... in so far as no such prior consultation took place before the board decision and no such relevant information was provided to the trade unions," Mr Halpenny's letter states.

"Such a breach would be bad enough in its own right. However, its negative impact is magnified when set against the responsible and committed role played by the trade unions, including our Siptu membership, over the recent very difficult and challenging years in securing the viability and profitability of Aer Lingus," it added.

The union are also anxious to meet Minister for Transport Martin Cullen about the impending privatisation. The flotation of the airline is expected to get Government clearance within weeks, although Siptu is stepping up a campaign in constituencies in north Dublin.

Siptu is still sponsoring the idea of a State holding company for the main semi-State companies, but this has failed to attract political support so far.

Siptu has however congratulated Aer Lingus on its decision to buy two long-haul Airbus aircraft recently which will fly US routes.