The largest union at the Dublin Airport Authority has demanded that management clarify whether large scale job cuts are planned by the company.

SIPTU, which represents 1,234 members at the airport, said it was seeking a meeting with the authority's chairman, Mr Gary McGann, to discuss reports circulating among staff that a major redundancy programme is on the cards.

The union, which represents almost 82 per cent of all staff, said employees were concerned about reports which suggested that cuts could be implemented at Dublin and Shannon airports in particular. The union has said if cuts were proposed, any redundancy programme must match the terms offered to Aer Lingus staff.

A letter sent to Mr McGann last week stated: "While a small number of employees have accepted the current exit package, we wish to formally advise you that this union is not accepting the terms of this package as a precedent for the future. Quite simply, we feel it falls significantly short when benchmarked with similar semi-state companies".

The company has refused to comment. The authority held its first operational board meeting yesterday when various line managers updated directors on their respective areas.

SIPTU wrote to Mr McGann on October 11th expressing concern about potential cost control measures and also requested a meeting. Yesterday the union's branch secretary at Dublin Airport, Mr Dermot O'Loughlin, said the union was disappointed it had not received a reply.

Mr McGann, currently chief executive officer of Jefferson Smurfit and former chief executive at Aer Lingus, angered the unions with his first communication to staff.

While designed to be nothing more than a general introduction, Mr McGann's comment that "there will be significant change" was greeted with concern by SIPTU.

The imposition of significant debt on Dublin Airport makes cost control measures very likely, according to sources. But other sources said it was unlikely major job losses would occur before business plans were drawn up for the three airports.

The business plans of the three airports have to receive the approval of the Ministers for Transport and Finance before Cork and Shannon can become autonomous.