The president of SIPTU, Mr Jack O'Connor, and its general officers are to be commended for their courage and responsibility in forestalling yesterday's disruption of transport services that had been threatened by the union's strike committees at Aer Rianta and the CIÉ group of companies.
The decision to overrule the advice of the committees was described as "treachery" by militant members and it may yet be challenged in the courts or through trade union channels. By providing more time for detailed discussion of proposals for the introduction of competition and reform, through established industrial channels, the SIPTU leadership has stepped back from directly challenging the Government.
A dangerous element of drift and uncertainty has accompanied the Government's intentions in relation to public transport. This has been exacerbated by some poorly judged pronouncements by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan; high-profile, soothing interventions by the Taoiseach, Mr Ahern, and virtual exclusion of the management of the State companies involved. The stop-go approach to reform and the introduction of competition by the Government has aggravated feelings of vulnerability and uncertainty amongst transport workers and encouraged militancy.
The strike committees are opposed to Mr Brennan's plans to break up both State companies; to privatise up to 25 per cent of Dublin bus routes and to build a privately-funded terminus at Dublin Airport. Last January, airport disruption was avoided following contact between the Taoiseach and the president of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr David Begg. A written undertaking was provided by Mr Brennan that there would be no compulsory redundancies and that the pay and conditions of workers would be preserved. But a perceived failure to follow through on various undertakings given in relation to CIÉ and to supply the commercial projections and business plans underlying the break-up of Aer Rianta, brought worker militancy back to the boil.
The latest undertaking from the Taoiseach to oversee the behaviour of his Minister for Transport is a significant development. It responds to trade union suspicions of Mr Brennan and his views on privatisation. It places Mr Ahern at the heart of these issues. And it reflects a long and unsatisfactory history of complex ministerial involvement in the internal affairs of State companies.
Details of the business plans and commercial projections for separate Aer Rianta companies will be supplied to SIPTU well in advance of legislation. And the concerns about the long-term financial viability of Cork and Shannon airports will have to be addressed. In more general terms, if disruption of transport services is to be avoided, greater clarity of intent and more meaningful consultations will be required from Government, along with a greater willingness on the part of trade unions to accept reform. Change is certainly needed, but it must be properly managed.