SIPTU, the country's biggest trade union, is organising a national campaign for the retention of duty-free sales.
At a union meeting yesterday in Shannon, the home of dutyfree, it was decided that the campaign will involve all SIPTU branches.
A SIPTU aviation representative, Ms Carmel Hogan, said the proposal to end duty-free sales on travel within Europe on July 1st, 1999, was a travesty and of no real benefit to anybody.
"It will threaten jobs, increase ticket prices and take away a small privilege enjoyed by most travellers when they leave the country.
"Originally the concept was based on the expectation of an open market across the EU with equal excise and VAT rates. It now appears that the duty free is the only area being targeted by the EU.
"We believe that there is no valid reason for the elimination of duty-free sales."
She added that it is the ordinary traveller who enjoys and benefits most from duty-free, and urged all politicians to pursue the issue at every available forum.