25.06.05
Workers at Dublin Airport have threatened strike action within a week if the airports management do not commit to existing agreements on hiring new staff. Up to 600 workers at the airport, including airport police, security staff and fire officers agreed that they had lost confidence and trust in the airport's senior management.
Members of the Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union (Siptu) have held an emergency meeting over plans to recruit 21 security supervisors. Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), who own and operate the airport, would like to appoint the supervisors to improve screening services, which were strongly criticised after a security audit of the airport by EU inspectors in April.
Siptu has accused the company of trying to make the appointments without complying with existing union agreements. Shop stewards have imposed a deadline of Thursday for management to give assurances they will honour union commitments.
Dermot O'Loughlin, Siptu Civil Aviation Branch Secretary said that they are writing to the DDA to advise them of the outcome of the meeting, and that they will be seeking firm assurances by return that the DDA will comply with all existing agreements and desist from taking current unilateral actions.
An emergency general meeting of all members of the airport police, security and fire services will take place on Thursday June 30 at Dublin airport. If the company fails to respond positively by then a ballot for industrial action is expected.
