This article is from page 62 of the 2005-10-11 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 62 JPG
SIPTU, representing over 500 workers at Shannon Airport and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), are on a collision course over the future of Shannon. Last month, talks between SIPTU and the DAA’s Director for Change, John Horgan broke up after Mr Horgan produced a document proposing the exiting from ca- tering and the outsourcing of the majority of functions at Shannon.
SIPTU’s National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny has proposed the parties reconvene for fresh talks this Wednesday, October 12.
However, in a strongly-worded letter to Mr Horgan outlining SIPTU’s concerns, Mr Halpenny has con- firmed to Mr Horgan that the production of the docu- ment at the union-management meeting “is unaccept- able and indeed unhelpful to the process, insofar as it is premised on the exit of catering and the outsourc- ing of what appears to be the majority of functions in Shannon’.
He said, “The undue focus on an exit package — al- beit to be “negotiated” — detracts completely from what should be the focus, the future of Shannon and the place of our members therein. We have proposed discussions based on the following: no change without consultation and agreement with the Unions; nothing is agreed until everything is agreed and no compul-
sory redundancies.”
Mr Halpenny said that a SIPTU official would meet with a DAA representative in the two days prior to the meeting to examine the financial status and projections for the airport. He added that the meeting scheduled for October 12 would agree an agenda for discussions and agree a schedule of meetings going forward.
He warned, however, “In this context, it is important to repeat we cannot accept exit from catering or out- sourcing of functions as part of that agenda.”
Mr Halpenny suggested that the parties agree to Seek the services of a Facilitator to assist them, with- out prejudice to their rights to refer disputes in the nor- mal course to the LRC, Labour Court and third party NOLO NMOS EON
The talks are taking place with the DAA, as the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) has yet to become a legal entity because a business plan for the airport has yet to be approved by Government.
Shannon is on course for a record year in 2005 with the first nine months showing passengers numbers be- ing in excess of 2.5 million — an increase of 36% – while the lucrative US troop traffic has accounted for almost a quarter of a million passengers and estimated to have generated over €25 million for the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA).
Last year, the Airport’s loss was €2.5 million on a turnover of €95 million.