Ministerial intervention needed in aviation pensions dispute – Dooley

Published on: 12 February 2014


Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport, Tourism and Sport, Timmy Dooley TD, has called for Ministerial intervention as the dispute over pensions at Shannon, Dublin and Cork Airports escalates.

Deputy Dooley was speaking after SIPTU staff at all three airports voted for strike action over the pension deficits at the DAA and Aer Lingus.

“A strike by DAA and Aer Lingus workers at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports has the potential to be hugely damaging, not just for the areas affected, for the national economy. The overwhelming nature of the ballot shows us how deep the workers’ anger is.

“All sides have been to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and the Labour Court, but unfortunately neither have been able to broker a compromise.

“With one of the biggest holidays in the calendar, St Patrick’s Day, on the horizon it is vital a damaging strike is averted.

“Minister Leo Varadkar has been remarkably silent on this, the serious nature of this dispute warrants an intervention.

“The Minister needs to step up to the mark and offer to chair talks between unions and management. The dispute over pensions is mirrored in many semi-state organisations; we need to utilise the expertise available in these other organisations to come up with possible compromises.

“There is no time to wait, strike action could start at the end of the month. Minister Varadkar must recognise the seriousness of the situation and intervene as a matter of urgency.”

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