AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE firm Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland (LTAI) has warned staff that the survival of the company is at stake unless an agreement reached with unions is implemented.

Management, staff and union representatives will meet this morning.

In April the company put 465 employees on protective notice in a dispute over changes to work practices. At that time, the company said up to 150 staff at the Rathcoole facility in west Dublin may need to be laid off in the immediate future.

An agreement was reached but in an information notice sent to all staff yesterday, management said the agreement was in danger of collapsing.

“If the agreement collapses all parties will be left with few options and actions will become inevitable that will leave a great residue of upset and bitterness.”

LTAI said the deal had been concluded with trade union unions after extended negotiations. “However, it now appears that a group of staff is very vocal and bitter in their opposition to the agreement. The effective ban on overtime in key areas is beginning to seriously damage the company.”

The company warned that the agreement could not be disregarded “ if the company is to have any real chance to survive”.

It said any clarifications or adjustments to the implementation of the agreement would have to be final. “Should this prove impossible on Thursday next, then this general notice should be taken as a protective notice to all staff and necessary steps by management, including unpaid lay-offs and suspensions, will commence next week.”

Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Mary Coughlan last night expressed concern at what she called “serious developments” at the plant.

“It would be most regrettable if the actions of a small few jeopardise the jobs of so many in this highly skilled sector,” she said.

A spokesman for the Unite trade union said: “Issues have arisen with the way the agreement reached in April has been implemented.”

He said today’s meeting would seek to address those issues.

The most recent accounts filed at the Companies Registration Office show that Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland Holdings, the parent company of the Irish operations, had a turnover of $335 million in 2007 and posted a pre-tax profit of $24 million.