SIPTU has said it will begin the process of broadening its industrial action at Ryanair today by "discussing with other workers how they can contribute" to the five-week-old dispute by ground-handling staff.
The union's general president warned yesterday that failure to achieve recognition at Ryanair will lead to the collapse of social partnership.
Addressing a rally at the company's offices in Dublin Airport, Mr Jimmy Somers said that "whether it likes it or not, Ryanair is at the forefront of a make-or-break battle. Because if trade union recognition is not won at Ryanair, it will be the end of social partnership".
SIPTU's regional secretary, Mr Brendan Hayes, said the union would be "going to Congress today" to begin the process of escalation. With the involvement of other Dublin workers, he predicted, "I don't expect this to be a long dispute".
Some 200 protesters and their families were joined by about 60 workers from Aer Lingus and Servisair for the rally. This was followed by a march to the airport departures area, where the protesters distributed leaflets.
The protest coincided with the first full-day work stoppage by ground-handling staff. SIPTU claimed 200 of its members picketed the baggage-handling area, where what the company says are "volunteers from staff and management" provided the baggagehandling service. The volunteers included Ryanair chief executive, Mr Michael O'Leary.
Spokespeople for the company and union again made conflicting claims about the effects of the dispute. Ryanair said no flights were cancelled or delayed yesterday and claimed a "significant" number of staff had returned to work. SIPTU conceded that flights appeared to be operating on schedule, but said the airline was operating far fewer services than was usual on the weekend of a rugby international.
Before the protesters dispersed, they were told by SIPTU's vicepresident, Mr Des Geraghty, that the union was "not depending on your industrial muscle alone". He said the help of other workers and the travelling public would be needed to help send the message "that Irish workers will not lie down and be trampled on".
Fine Gael has called on the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment to exercise her power under the Industrial Relations Act and appoint a person to examine the issues in the dispute.
The party's deputy leader, Mrs Nora Owen, said Ryanair's refusal of Labour Court hearings and the wider risk to Dublin's tourism industry meant Ms Harney should act now. "The Ryanair workers have the right to have grievances about pay and conditions properly considered. For the sake of industrial relations generally, the Tanaiste must become proactive and intervene using the legislation provided."
Mrs Owen accused the Government of engaging in "lots of PR and media interviews" but making little progress in solving the dispute. She said comments yesterday from the Minister of State at the Department of Employment, Mr Tom Kitt, suggested he was unaware the Minister had power to intervene. Speaking on RTE, Mr Kitt had appealed to Ryanair to accept third-party mediation.
