The Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union (TEEU) has dismissed a letter from the Government on the future of Aer Rianta as a "slap in the face" to airport workers.
The Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan sent a letter to all unions representing airport workers yesterday, in which he outlined his plans to break up Aer Rianta. Among those plans are the establishment of regional interim boards and turning Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports into autonomous authorities under State ownership.
Mr Brennan has also signalled that the Aviation Regulation Act 2001 will require revision to take account of the proposed new airports' structure.
But TEEU regional secretary Mr Arthur Hall said today that the minister was ploughing ahead with his plans while refusing to accept a union demand for an independent review of the feasibility of his plan.
"Equally worrying is the Minister's refusal to give any commitments on the future of the pension fund, or even to conform that existing collective bargaining structures for our members would be maintained in the new structures," Mr Hall said.
He said Mr Brennan also failed to address union concerns over the ownership of a second terminal at Dublin airport, or the status of the Shannon stopover.
The union also questioned the legality of Mr Brennan's plan to appoint chairpersons to the regional interim boards, despite the fact the minister's letter outlined his intention to have worker representation on these boards.
TEEU, SIPTU, IMPACT and Mandate have all balloted the 2,000 Aer Rianta workers they represent over possible industrial action. They are concerned about conditions of employment in the event of the break-up.