Dublin airport staff vote for strike over flight deals

Members of the four main unions representing working in the State's three main airports  have voted for possilbe strike action if their right to cheap Aer Lingus flights is removed.

The dispute centres around plans by Dublin, Shannon and Cork Airport Authorities to withdraw the travel discount scheme which gives airport staff reduced prices on flights where seats are unfilled.

Airport management has offered to keep the scheme in place until the end of this month to allow for talks. However, all four unions reject talks, arguing the deal is non-negotiable. They say the scheme is one of the conditions of employment enshrined in the State Airports Act.

Sitpu, Impact, Mandate and Technical Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) have all held votes, with results all showing staff in favour of industrial action.

Mandate national official Mr Brendan Archbold  told ireland.com157 of its 167 members at Dublin Airport and all 21 members in Cork Airport voted to take whatever means necessary to retain the scheme.

Around 80 per cent of IMPACT's 155 staff voted in favour of action. An Impact spokesman said a decision on what form of industrial action may be taken would be made next week.

The TEEU voted by nine to one in favour of industrial action. Senior TEEU shop steward Mr Ian McDonnell said union members were angered at the possible ending of the scheme, as it would be a "significant dilution" of employees' pay and conditions.

He accused the DAA of reneging on commitments made by the Government when the break-up of Aer Rianta was agreed last year.

"The TEEU has always had grave reservations about the viability of the plan to break up Aer Rianta," Mr McDonnell said. "It can only work if it has the full commitment of staff and it now appears that our worst fears are being realised."