Workers at Knock airport are to vote on the latest offer from management next Monday in a dispute which hangs over the new daily service to and from Dublin.
Over 25 workers at Knock airport - including 15 hired specifically for the new Air Arann operation - have refused to cooperate with the early morning flight service to Dublin due to a dispute over shift rate premiums offered in return for working unsociable hours.
At a meeting today with the worker’s union SIPTU, management put forward an offer of a 10 per cent shift premium to be reviewed in six months on condition workers agree to take the case to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC).
SIPTU representative, Mr Sean Nolan, said the offer will be put to secret ballot on Monday, but was pessimistic about the outcome as workers have already rejected an offer of a 10 per cent shift premium.
He criticised management for their refusal to pursue meaningful negotiations at a local level before turning to the Labour Court and said the demand to go straight to the LRC is "an abuse of the conciliation service".
The only difficulty workers have with the new service is the early morning flights and the change in shift patterns, Mr Nolan said. Adding, workers are cooperating during the normal working day.
The service was launched yesterday and Air Arann have said flights are going on schedule. But management, who were not available for comment, have put the newly recruited staff on notice because of non-cooperation with the morning flight.