This article is from page 21 of the 2008-12-09 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 21 JPG
THE process of the voluntary shed- ding of 35 per cent of the Aer Lin- gus jobs at Shannon is to begin after SIPTU members in the airline voted to accept the new plan hammered out between the union and the airline.
SIPTU members at Aer Lingus voted by almost 80 per cent to accept the alternative cost savings plan to outsourcing more than 1,300 jobs at the national air line.
A union spokesman said that the turnout for the vote was “80 per cent delivering a clear overall majority in favour of the proposals”.
“Tt is now a matter for the company to evaluate the options each individ- ual has made under the alternative cost savings plan to see if it provides a viable option,” National Industrial Secretary Gerry McCormack said after the conclusion of the ballot. Staff members had just over one day to notify the company of their pre- ferred options.
“We welcome the ballot result as the first step towards preventing the outsourcing of more than 1,300 jobs and securing the long term viability of Aer Lingus,’ McCormack added.
The company needs seven per cent of staff in Cork and Dublin and 35 per cent of staff in Shannon to leave if the plan is to be a success.
It also needs half of the remaining staff to migrate onto the new terms and conditions provided to achieve the cost savings necessary.
Explaining the next step in the
process, McCormack said: “SIPTU will also be analysing and evaluating the savings achieved when our mem- bers make their returns to Aer Lin- gus management on their preferred options.
“In doing this we will have the ex- pert assistance of Eugene McMahon of Mazars, who played an invaluable
role in the process of identifying al- ternative savings to the original out- sourcing strategy proposed by man- eNxey nao