STRIKE NOTICE has been served on Aer Rianta, the airports authority, by SIPTU on behalf of the members it represents in the Airport Police and Fire Service (APFS).
The strike, to take effect on August 28th, would close the airports at Dublin, Shannon and Cork as they would be unable to comply with international air safety standards.
However, SIPTU sources said yesterday it was hopeful that the Labour Relations Commission would become involved before the strike notices expires.
The dispute concerns a demand by the US Federal Aviation Agency (FAA) that American security personnel be stationed at all airports used by US carriers. SIPTU says the Americans cannot unilaterally decide how security will be implemented at Irish.
A spokesman for Aer Rianta said the FAA was insisting that US airlines were entitled to protection standards set by Americans. "They will probably insist on it even more after the TWA crash," he added. US security personnel were being deployed at airports all over the world, the spokesman said.
The Department of Transport, Energy and Communications has given permission for American security staff to be stationed at Dublin and Shannon airports.
APFS members voted last month for strike action. Apart from the issue of Americans taking Irish jobs, they are concerned that numbers in the airport police and fire service had not kept pace with the growth in aircraft movements through the airports. They are also concerned about the growing problem of crime and drug smuggling at the airports.
SIPTU sources say they hope the Labour Relations Commission will find a formula to avoid a strike. The Aer Rianta spokesman said it appeared from discussions that both sides wanted to reach an accommodation.