Siptu has welcomed the appointment of director of conciliation services at the Labour Relations Commission, as facilitator in talks between the union and management at Aer Lingus.
Mr Kevin Foley will have the difficult task of assisting the parties agree the terms of restructuring at the airline where management are seeking to lay-off over 1,300 workers.
Siptu members have already endorsed strike action over the plan and the union's leadership has indicated it is not satisfied with the redundancy package on offer.
Welcoming the appointment announced last night, SIPTU national industrial secretary Mr Mick Halpenny said that Mr Foley was "well equipped to deal in a constructive and creative fashion with the issues that management and unions face".
"The talks' process is time-lined to conclude by the middle of October and it will pose a very difficult challenge for all parties, but especially our members at the airline," Mr Halpenny said.