Madam, - There is clearly something wrong when a relatively small group of moderately skilled people can threaten to clos a major international airport, in blatant defiance of their employer-Government's pleas, and with such casual disregard for travellers.
The ability of trade unions to carry out their threats is unfortunately facilitated by the use of outdated business management and industrial relations concepts. Employer-employee relations are still often conducted via a small group of hard-line shop stewards, who unfortunately have little or no concept of the stark realities of running a business in this competitive age.
This is hard evidence that State-run companies such as Aer Rianta should indeed be put out into the private sector, where costs and resources can be managed effectively, professionally and in accordance with good business practice.
The whimsical, foot-stamping antics of a group of employees far too used to the cosiness of semi-State employment could not then bring multi-million-euro businesses to a halt.
The ongoing crises in Irish aviation are an international embarrassment. It is time that someone got to the root of the problem rather than engaging in word-play. - Yours, etc.,
GERARD REYNOLDS, Ballycullen Road, Dublin 16.