Unions and the Government remain on course for confrontation over the future of Aer Rianta despite calls yesterday by both sides for dialogue, writes Chris Dooley, Industry and Employment Correspondent
Thousands of passengers were inconvenienced yesterday when general meetings organised by SIPTU grounded planes for an hour at the State's three main airports.
The threat of further disruption has been lifted for the immediate future, however, pending the outcome of "urgent engagement" sought by SIPTU with the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan.
A 10-point plan published by SIPTU yesterday included a demand for a "publicly transparent review" of his proposals. Mr Brennan has already rejected this.
SIPTU is also seeking a "meaningful process of engagement" with the Minister to address "all issues". This would have to be independently chaired, it said. The union's vice-president, Mr Jack O'Connor, identified this demand last night as the key element of its 10 proposals.
However, if by "all issues" the union means revisiting the decision to break up Aer Rianta and the reasons behind it, this too is almost certain to be rejected by the Minister. Mr Brennan is of the view that he has already consulted widely on his proposals and he is not prepared to review his decision.
He is, however, willing to discuss with unions how workers' pay and conditions can be secured under the planned new regime.
SIPTU will discuss its 10-point plan with the three other main Aer Rianta unions - IMPACT, MANDATE and the TEEU - at a meeting today. The four are likely to fight a united campaign against the plan.
Whether that includes industrial action will depend on the Government's response to the unions' demand for dialogue, Mr O'Connor said.
In all, 26 incoming and outgoing flights at Dublin Airport, seven in Shannon and six in Cork were temporarily grounded during yesterday's one-hour stoppage, affecting almost 5,000 passengers in total. There were knock-on delays to other flights after staff returned to work at about 3 p.m.
The Government last night issued a plea to the unions to "sit down and talk" with Mr Brennan.
"Nobody likes to see industrial unrest. The Government has made a decision to go forward. We would make a plea to the unions to sit down and talk and find some way through this," said the Government spokesman.