SR Technics staff to meet Tánaiste in bid to save jobs

Workers at SR Technics are to meet Tánaiste Mary Coughlan later this week in an attempt to save the Dublin plant.

A delegation of workers and union representatives will meet Ms Coughlan on Thursday in Government Buildings to emphasise the importance of retaining the skills base for Ireland.

last week, the aircraft maintenance firm announced it was closing its operation sat Dublin Airport, with the loss of more than 1,100 jobs.

Siptu branch organiser Pat Ward said the proposed closure was a "shock experience" for members that had quickly turned to anger.

"The decision to pull the maintenance facility from Dublin is wrong," he said.

"There is no doubting the unique specialist nature of the work carried out by the SR Technics employees and if this vital industry is lost now it will never return to Ireland."

The union said workers would pursue any means available to them to keep the facility open for business.

SR Technics, which was formerly known as FLS, Team Aer Lingus and Aer Lingus Maintenance, lost three aircraft maintenance contracts with Aer Lingus last year.

Earlier this month, Gulf Air announced it was ending its maintenance contract from June.