Angry workers staged a partial walk-out from a meeting with TEAM Aer Lingus managers yesterday following accusations that previous agreements were not being honoured and that there was a lack of consultation.

The Aer Lingus Sports Association hangar-like building, within earshot of the planes flying over Dublin Airport, was packed as up to 1,000 workers first listened to three executives, Mr Gary McGann, Mr John Behan, and Mr Donnacha Hurley, present their "adapt or die" plan for the company and then made submissions.

The Labour councillor, Mr Sean Ryan, who plans to run for the North Dublin constituency vacated by Mr Ray Burke, was present at the workers' invitation. After the meeting, one maintenance worker said there was anger at the Government's handling of the affair, hinting at how the issue could be politicised in the by-election.

During the meeting, workers said they were the best in the world, as evidenced by Virgin Airlines loyalty to them, but were not being valued as such.

They presented a list of grievances centring on their "letters of comfort", stressing they were still employees of Aer Lingus, and seeking an assurance to that effect.

Mr McGann said that, at the time the letters were drawn up, the recipients were employees of Aer Lingus, but he would comment no further. The issue is expected to come before the High Court shortly in three separate cases. Some workers stressed that the letters they received were personal ones and were not negotiable by the unions.

At one point the letters were waved in derision, amid talk of drawing up a new agreement, with "guarantees" for the workers.

Others, who do not have letters, sought assurances on their future status but were told the proposals for restructuring the company, through a strategic alliance, would be put before union officials next week. The management members were accused of lining their own pockets, ignoring worker concerns and breaking agreements brokered in previous years. There was bitterness at a perceived lack of consultation, with the point repeatedly made that media reports were often the first indication workers got of a change in management strategy.