SIPTU has warned the Government and employers that their attitude towards the Ryanair dispute and willingness to resolve it will be taken as a "test of their commitment to social partnership". The union's vice-president, Mr Des Geraghty, said employers had "set their face against allowing workers a statutory right to union recognition. They say that they should accept a voluntary code of practice. But someone on the employers' side will have to demonstrate that such a code can work in situations such as we have at the airport, where a company awash with money is treating low-paid employees with contempt and flagrantly ignoring procedures".
He said SIPTU would be raising the issue with the Government and the Irish Business and Employers Confederation through the Irish Congress of Trade Unions next week. "If IBEC and the Government don't act, then all their assurances about social partnership and what it means will be seen to be worthless."
Mr Geraghty was speaking after a special meeting of SIPTU's executive.
Today SIPTU is holding a special meeting of its members in 21 other companies operating from Dublin Airport. It says members have requested the meeting to discuss how they can support the Ryanair strikers.
Yesterday morning the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Ms Harney, briefed the Cabinet on the report of the high-level group on union recognition. It is understood that the dispute was also discussed during the briefing.
SIPTU claimed yesterday that 10 scheduled Ryanair flights had been cancelled because of action by its striking baggage-handlers. A spokeswoman for the company responded by saying: "Ryanair confirms that the schedule and 917 of 954 staff are working normally".
She could not comment on whether the normal winter schedule is operating. According to this, 80 flights to Britain should have operated yesterday, although the schedule does carry the warning that "information in this timetable is subject to change".
Despite assurances from official spokespersons for Ryanair that schedules have operated normally, a Ryanair staff member at Dublin Airport confirmed to The Irish Times on Tuesday that there was "a lot of upheaval and delays because of the strike".