This article is from page 12 of the 2007-05-29 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 12 JPG
MANAGEMENT and unions at Shannon Airport are to meet under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) this Thursday to resolve any outstanding issues over the €36 million ‘survival plan’ at Shannon.
However, the LRC will not be deal- ing with the thorny issue of discount travel for those who will be taking voluntary redundancy. That is being dealt with by the Labour Court.
The delay, which is clarifying the various issues connected to the re- structuring plan, is holding up two new private companies coming in to assume control of the ground cater- ing and in-flight catering at Shan- Wey F
Also, it 1s understood that secu- rity staff at the airport won’t allow ex-catering staff take up their new positions in the security sector un- less they receive the first part of the €16,000 sum that will be provided for each of the 350 staff members that are staying on.
Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) staff have enjoyed free and discount- ed Aer Lingus flights while working for the company and after retire-
ment. In the 10-page document, no mention is made of the discounted flights. The ensuing row resulted in unions and management meeting un- der the auspices of the Labour Rela- tions Commission.
It is understood that over 185 staff members have signed up to take the voluntary redundancy programme.
Prior to the package been put on of- fer to the airport’s 550 workers, the Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) stated that 200 voluntary redundan- cles were needed in order for the Shannon deal to be viable.
While the SAA may not reach the 200 target, it is believed that the high number taking up the offer will be enough for the deal to go through.
As part of the deal with the air- port’s workers, the SAA is to exit completely from catering. It is be- lieved that the rates offered by the two catering firms that will provide eround catering and in-flight cater- ing have disappointed workers.
In the deal, those workers with 24 years experience or more who opt to leave the SAA will receive over €100,000, while the 350 who remain are to receive a payment of €16,000. The deal is expected to save the SAA €10 million per annum.