Thousands of travellers and holidaymakers face disruption to their plans today as union members at the three main airports stop work to discuss the Government's plans to break up Aer Rianta, writes Carl O'Brien.
Leaders of the four main unions, who believe the plans threaten jobs, will agree a joint strategy to resist the move, including a threat of industrial action.
They will also call for the plans to be postponed until an independent panel of experts is appointed to examine the most effective way of developing the State's main airports.
Large-scale meetings of SIPTU's 2,700 members, who represent 70 per cent of airport workers, are to take place between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. The meetings are likely to impact on air travel during one of the busiest periods of the year for Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports.
More than 50,000 passengers are due to pass through Dublin Airport today, while almost 20,000 more are expected to pass through Shannon and Cork.
An Aer Rianta spokesman said it was difficult to estimate the scale of any disruption but advised passengers to turn up as normal.
While it is preparing a contingency plan to keep any disruption to a minimum, the spokesman said any delays in the afternoon would inevitably have a knock-on affect on services for the rest of the day.
The Minister for Arts, Tourism and Sport, Mr O'Donoghue, said disruption to air services during the peak tourism season would be "inexcusable."
Union leaders will meet at the Irish Congress of Trade Union headquarters in Dublin this morning to draw up their joint opposition plan.
SIPTU general secretary Mr Des Geraghty said the break-up plan was not in the interests of its members or the travelling public and accused the Government of pursuing a "Ryanair agenda".
"We shouldn't be breaking up the company to produce three struggling individual entities.
"Aer Rianta is doing well and it could do nothing but good for the country if it was strengthened, instead of being brought down by predatory competitors."
A report drawn up by a SIPTU economist, to be discussed at today's meetings, predicts that a break-up would lead to job losses and questions the viability of the three airports.
In response to anger from rank-and-file members, the unions are expected to decide today to ballot on industrial action, but this would be taken only after alternatives, such as negotiations with the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, were exhausted.
Two of the four unions, the TEEU and MANDATE, have already balloted for industrial action in the event of Mr Brennan breaking up Aer Rianta. The other two unions are understood to be keen to avoid any unpopular action at this stage.
Mr Brennan, who yesterday re-stated his conviction that the disbandment plans were the best way to develop the State's main airports, said he was available to meet unions at any time.
He also said he was "very pleased" to hear reports that Ryanair was planning to add 30 routes as a result of the break-up of Aer Rianta.
"I've made it clear that the three airports are going to grow," said the Minister.
"Growing airports means more jobs, not less. I'd ask unions to take part in that growth. That's the best way to secure employment," Mr Brennan said.
The Minister has given a guarantee there will be no threat to jobs or changes in workers' terms and conditions.
He has also signalled that there will be stronger representation for workers on the new boards, details of which are expected this week.
Mr Geraghty said that, as well as an independent review of Mr Brennan's plans, they wanted concrete details on how members' jobs and pay could be guaranteed in the new independent entities which are due to take over from Aer Rianta.
Mr Brennan also rejected suggestions that the break-up plan, which includes Dublin Airport assuming €100 million in debt from Cork and Shannon, could be illegal under European Union state aid rules.
He said the new structures were consistent with Brussels policies of ending monopolies and introducing more competition.