Irish Gov considers Baldonnel if DUB closed by dispute
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Irish Gov considers Baldonnel if DUB closed by dispute
http://www.unison.ie/irish_independe...&issue_id=9778
Brennan plays Baldonnel card in air staff row
TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan faced down angry Aer Rianta workers yesterday by hinting Baldonnel airport could be used if their threatened strike action to coincide with Ireland's EU presidency next year goes ahead.
Earlier the workers vowed they "won't stand idly by and watch the firm they created being broken up and ultimately privatised".
The workers - a group of whom protested outside Fianna Fail's parliamentary party meeting in a Sligo hotel - now say they will resort to industrial action which seems almost certain to disrupt the country's EU presidency. But an equally defiant Mr Brennan dismissed the Aer Rianta unions' claim of disruption.
The minister, speaking after a 45-minute meeting with worker representatives, said he hoped staff would not use industrial action during the six-month presidency term, which begins in January - but if they did, Baldonnel airport could be used instead.
"I presume Baldonnel will be a major place during the presidency," said Mr Brennan, adding that he hoped his (Aer Rianta) plans did not trigger industrial action.
Worker director Peter Dunne said they didn't accept the minister's assurances jobs wouldn't be lost in the planned break-up.
Neither did they believe Shannon and Cork airports could compete successfully against Dublin, which would ultimately lead to privatisation, he added.
Mr Brennan said the workers' fears were unfounded. They would be in the State's employ - the same guarantee they had with Aer Rianta.
The workers made clear their total opposition to the decision to introduce legislation to create three separate airport authorities at Dublin, Cork and Shannon. He would be pressing ahead with introducing the necessary law in the autumn, and there would be no redundancies at the airport.
Neither was he talking about selling airports. "They will be State-owned firms and the reason for doing it is to grow the businesses," Mr Brennan declared.
He wanted the new authorities to have autonomy to grow new routes.
Brennan plays Baldonnel card in air staff row
TRANSPORT Minister Seamus Brennan faced down angry Aer Rianta workers yesterday by hinting Baldonnel airport could be used if their threatened strike action to coincide with Ireland's EU presidency next year goes ahead.
Earlier the workers vowed they "won't stand idly by and watch the firm they created being broken up and ultimately privatised".
The workers - a group of whom protested outside Fianna Fail's parliamentary party meeting in a Sligo hotel - now say they will resort to industrial action which seems almost certain to disrupt the country's EU presidency. But an equally defiant Mr Brennan dismissed the Aer Rianta unions' claim of disruption.
The minister, speaking after a 45-minute meeting with worker representatives, said he hoped staff would not use industrial action during the six-month presidency term, which begins in January - but if they did, Baldonnel airport could be used instead.
"I presume Baldonnel will be a major place during the presidency," said Mr Brennan, adding that he hoped his (Aer Rianta) plans did not trigger industrial action.
Worker director Peter Dunne said they didn't accept the minister's assurances jobs wouldn't be lost in the planned break-up.
Neither did they believe Shannon and Cork airports could compete successfully against Dublin, which would ultimately lead to privatisation, he added.
Mr Brennan said the workers' fears were unfounded. They would be in the State's employ - the same guarantee they had with Aer Rianta.
The workers made clear their total opposition to the decision to introduce legislation to create three separate airport authorities at Dublin, Cork and Shannon. He would be pressing ahead with introducing the necessary law in the autumn, and there would be no redundancies at the airport.
Neither was he talking about selling airports. "They will be State-owned firms and the reason for doing it is to grow the businesses," Mr Brennan declared.
He wanted the new authorities to have autonomy to grow new routes.
