Workers at Knock airport have today voted against an offer from management aimed at resolving an on-going dispute between the airport and workers over a new daily service to 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 last Friday 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).
Today union members voted to reject the offer but will take their case to the LRC.
SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Sean Nolan, said in a statement that the union had tried to secure meaningful talks with management since last April, but were only met by management on January 9th. The new service was due to come in to effect on January 18th.
Mr Nolan complained that SIPTU had been left with "precious little time to reach an agreement" with management. The union had been looking for a 20-30 per cent shift premium to compensate workers for the unsociable hours involved with the service.
Airport management could not be contacted for comment.