Over 200 workers are to ballot on industrial action at Aer Lingus, in line with the decision of Siptu members at the airline who have already agreed on a protective vote over plans to privatise the company.
The Brian Gormley of Amicus said after members of the craft unions met at Dublin Airport today that workers in six craft unions today voted unanimously in favour of the ballot.
Around 2,000 Siptu members are to begin balloting tomorrow after overwhelmingly endorsing the proposal at a series of meetings in the past week. workers were did not want an industrial dispute but needed to have their views heard before a final decision on privatisation is taken.
It is proposed that around €200 million could be set aside from the proceeds to address a projected shortfall in the company pension.
But Mr Gormley said the issue was a red herring. "The pension fund is not in deficit. The problem it has is due to inadequate ongoing revenue because the job cuts have reduced the size of the workforce. The contributions issue will not be solved by a once-off cash injection," he said.
Siptu, today countered management's contention that the airline needed to privatise to raise funds for investment in new aircraft.
National industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said correspondence involving the Department of Transport, former EU commissioner Mario Monti and Labour MEP Proinsias De Rossa showed EU regulations did not prevent the State from injecting capital into the airline.
Mr Halpenny said it also appeared that management's valuation of the company did not meet with the assessment of the Government's advisors who estimated a 60 per cent equity-release would raise around €400 million.
'This means that the national airline would be effectively delivered to private investors for the price of four planes with the company still having to chase the balance of the €2 billion capital requirement outlined by them.
"There would be nil gain to the Exchequer, marginal gain for the company, major concern for our members and the removal of public control over a strategic asset vital to the economic security of the State," Mr Halpenny said.
Siptu has written to TDs and senators seeking support for its campaign to keep the flag-carrier in public ownsership.