The threats of disruption to mainline train services and of an escalation of the Aer Lingus catering dispute have receded.
Iarnrod Eireann gatekeepers have withdrawn their threat of strike action next week after the company agreed to restore a daily shift payment worth over £50 a week on a temporary basis. SIPTU and management representatives will meet again in January to reach a final resolution.
A breakthrough in the dispute was reached at talks in the Labour Relations Commission yesterday. The company has agreed to pay retrospection on the shift money, which was withdrawn unilaterally last May. Most gatekeepers are due around £1,500.
Caterers at Aer Lingus suspended their industrial action following a threat by management of lay-offs. The decision follows a meeting of catering shop stewards. Tensions ran high and there were heated exchanges at SIPTU's airport offices.
In a statement afterwards, SIPTU branch secretary Mr Tony Walsh said talks were to resume with the company to obtain clarification on the pay offer. He also called for the withdrawal of the company's threat of lay-offs.
The company's director of corporate affairs, Mr Dan Loughrey, welcomed the SIPTU decision "to stand down industrial action. We will facilitate any clarification meetings with the union", he said. "The issue of lay-offs doesn't arise in the context of industrial action being discontinued."
However, tensions are still running high among caterers. "What has happened at Aer Lingus over the last day or two is industrial terrorism. A message was sent to workers that you either take what's being offered or lose your job," SIPTU shop steward Ms Clare Daly said.
"We're going back into talks and hopefully we can get more out of the process than we have had so far."
Around 1,500 Aer Lingus general operatives are balloting on pay proposals. Some 450 are caterers, who are mostly female. They have some of the lowest pay rates and fewest promotional outlets in the company.