A meeting of unions in the aviation sector unanimously agreed yesterday to consult their members on the most effective means of supporting Ryanair baggagehandlers. A statement from the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) said the unions had praised the handlers for their courage in standing up to the "bullying and psychological warfare" by senior management.
ICTU's assistant general secretary, Mr Tom Wall, said there was total agreement among the unions at the meeting that one company could not be allowed to lower standards in the aviation sector. The unions said Ryanair employees were fully entitled to raise issues of low pay, health and safety in the workplace and the right to trade-union representation.
In Limerick the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, urged Ryanair to avail of the opportunity of having third-party involvement in its current industrial dispute.
Every dispute had to be resolved, "and I think, given the difference between the two sides, it will take a third party at some stage".
A spokeswoman for Ryanair said SIPTU's escalation of the dispute at Dublin Airport yesterday had "no effect" on Ryanair operations. She claimed that more Ryanair baggage-handling staff were returning to work.