Trade unions meeting managementof SR Technics (SRT) today were told that the company was not yet ready to discuss its planned closure of the North Dublin plant, or handover to a new operator, as it had still to finalise its refinancing arrangements for the whole group.
Hopes have been growing that the jobs of 1,100 staff employed by the company at Dublin airport could be saved after Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Mary Coughlan yesterday said there have been a number of expressions of interest from parties interested in taking over the firm.
Last week SR Technics announced it was intending to close its operation at Dublin airport with the loss of 1,100 jobs.
Following a meeting with the company this afternoon, Siptu branch organiser Pat Ward said, "We were very surprised that the company was not ready to negotiate with us today and we asked why they had invited us in
when they knew they had not finalised their financial arrangements."
At today's meeting management did give a commitment not to sell or transfer equipment out of the hangars and also indicated that there were a number of parties interested in taking over various elements of the operation.
The unions preference is to keep the plant as one operation rather than allow it to be broken up.
Speaking after a meeting with trade unions yesterday, Ms Coughlan said everything that could be done would be done to retain as many jobs as possible at SRT. She said State agencies would be following up on the expressions of interest.
Willie Quigley of trade union Unite said it was understood Ms Coughlan was already working with the IDA on ways to secure the future of the SRT facility.
SR Technics, which was formerly known as FLS, Team Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Maintenance, lost three aircraft maintenance contracts with Aer Lingus last year. Earlier this month, Gulf Air announced it was ending its maintenance contract with the firm as and from June.
Both unions and management at SR Technics have been invited to attend the Joint Oireachtas Committee on
Transport next Wednesday.