The Government Inquiry Team report into the Ryanair dispute and the closure of Dublin Airport last March is due to be published today. It is expected to be severely critical of the company and the union representing its striking baggage handlers, SIPTU.
The report, which was compiled by the former president of the ICTU, Mr Phil Flynn, and former FUE director Mr Dan McAuley, was sent to the Tanaiste, Ms Harney, last week. Besides reviewing the events which led to the union recognition dispute at Ryanair and subsequent sympathetic industrial action by thousands of airport workers, it advocates that the Government revisit the disputes procedures for those working in the essential services.
A proposed Code of Conduct was part of the 1990 Industrial Relations Act and every time there has been a serious dispute - or threatened dispute - in key sectors such as power, or health, it has been revisited. The inquiry team recommends new procedures that would place legal obligations on employers and trade unions to refer disputes to the Labour Court when essential services are threatened. It is also understood to recommend that the Minister for Public Enterprise, Ms O'Rourke, review contingency plans for the airport.
The team is understood to criticise Ryanair for refusing to co-operate with the inquiry. It said the decision to terminate the employment of some probationary baggage handlers during the course of the investigation may have been, intentionally or inadvertently, influenced by the workers' participation in the strike.
Aer Rianta's fire crews are criticised for joining the sympathetic strike and other employees are accused of gross misconduct in using their security clearance passes to demonstrate on the apron and obstruct Ryanair aircraft.
Both the union and the company are reserving comment until they have studied the report.