This article is from page 17 of the 2007-03-27 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 17 JPG
THE €36 million deal struck be- tween management and unions at Shannon Airport will collapse if the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) does not secure 200 voluntary re- dundancies.
Balloting of SIPTU members at the airport is due to commence today (Tues) and continue until next Thurs- day, April 5. A count is to take place later on that day.
All three unions concerned, SIPTU, IMPACT and the TEUU recommend acceptance. The deal is expected to be endorsed in the ballot prior to SEN Coe
However, 200 workers must then accept the voluntary redundancy package that the SAA has put for- ward.
The deal makes it more attractive
for staff to remain with the lump sum payment increased from €10,000 to €16,000. The SAA will be seeking the first of the redundancies before the end of April.
According to the 1l0-page docu- ment drawn up after marathon nego- tiations, “‘all parties understand that in the absence of 200 volunteers for severance from the company, this agreement will not be capable of 1m- plementation”.
It is understood that there are 105 working in catering, which is to be completely outsourced. However, the deal allows those workers to transfer to the new operation with the same terms and conditions enjoyed and not take the redundancy package.
The deal also allows for the rede- ployment of catering staff to other areas of the company.
The airport will revert to a 16-hour
operation instead of the 24 hour op- eration that is currently in place.
The deal states that “it is acknowl- edged by all that this agreement is based on exceptional circumstances — the long term viability of Shannon — and as such, its terms will not be used as a precedent for any future claims by either side”.
According to the document, the payment of €16,000 to staff re- maining will be paid in two phases, €10,000 to be paid on the agreement going through and €6,000 four and a half month later. The lump sums to be paid to staff who remain on 1s ex- pected to cost €6.5 million.
The agreement also states that “the acceptance of these terms by the un- ions will not imply that the unions accept any of the conditions set out in the State Airport Acts 2004 have been met”’.