AIRCRAFT MAINTENANCE firm Lufthansa Technik Airmotive Ireland (LTAI) yesterday put 465 employees on protective notice in a dispute over changes to work practice.
The company said up to 150 staff at the Rathcoole facility in west Dublin may need to be laid off in the immediate future.
A letter was issued to each employee notifying them of the introduction of layoffs, with effect from next Monday.
It described the move by the company as “regrettable and avoidable”. In a statement yesterday evening, the company said it had sought a range of labour flexibility arrangements, none of which involved job losses or cuts in basic pay. “Securing these arrangements would clear the way for the investment of a new engine line, which is critical to the future of LTAI,” it said.
LTAI also said the engine inputs the investment would have generated would no longer be available to the company in 2009 or future years. “This fact, taken together with the existing shortfall in engine inputs due to the global recession, means that the level of work in the plant both at present and in the future is not sufficient to sustain the current workforce.”
On Tuesday staff voted to reject Labour Court proposals on the introduction of new flexibility and work practice reforms.
In response the company said it had halted a planned $40 million investment in a new engine line as a result of the decision by the workers.
Last night the Technical Engineering and Electrical Union called on the Tánaiste, Mary Coughlan, to intervene in the dispute.
“Given the imminent threat of closure at SR Technics in north Dublin as well, there is a strong possibility that we will have no aviation sector left within a matter of weeks… It is imperative that the Tánaiste, as the relevant Minister, and agencies such as the IDA, become involved in devising a rescue package for the sector,” said TEEU regional secretary Ian McDonnell.
A spokeswoman for the Tánaiste last night said “while recognising negotiation has already taken place, Ms Coughlan would urge the parties to re-engage immediately and to find a solution to the current bypass”.
“She’s concerned for these jobs unless a solution is found immediately,” the spokeswoman for Ms Coughlan added.
Last night the Unite union said it expects to meet management in the coming days to hold further talks on the matter.
“We want to maintain dialogue between our members and the company management,” said Unite regional officer Willie Quigley.