Industrial Action In Dublin May Affect Travellers

DAA Statement Re Potential Industrial Action on October 1

September 25 2012

Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) regrets to inform passengers that operations at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports may be affected by industrial action on Monday, October 1.

DAA has been served with notice of potential industrial action for October 1 by SIPTU and Mandate and in recent days, SIPTU has indicated that its members plan a series of rolling work stoppages at the three airports on that day.

DAA is deeply disappointed that trade unions have embarked on this unwarranted course of action and is exploring every option available to avert potential disruption to its operations. The planned industrial action, which relates to pension issues, is needless and will cause unnecessary worry and inconvenience for the travelling public.

DAA is currently in a conciliation process with trade union representatives in relation to the pensions issue under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission (LRC). These negotiations are ongoing and the decision to persist with notice of industrial action, while the industrial relations machinery of the State is fully engaged with this issue, is unwarranted. DAA remains committed to the LRC process and is working alongside all other stakeholders to find a resolution to the pension issue.

DAA has today been granted leave by the High Court to seek an injunction against SIPTU in relation to the planned work stoppages, as they are contrary to existing agreements between the company and the trade union. A full hearing on the case has been set for Friday, September 28.

DAA is working on a potential contingency plan should the industrial action proceed and will update passengers further in the coming days. Unfortunately at this stage, due to the manner in which SIPTU has decided to act, it is impossible to predict what action may be taken and DAA is therefore not currently in a position to accurately gauge the impact of any planned dispute.

DAA will continue to explore all options available to attempt to avert potential disruption to our customers and urges trade union representatives to engage with the current conciliation process rather than take needless industrial action.

DAA will update customers further in the coming days.