Ryanair to pursue SIPTU unless airport guarantee provided

Ryanair to pursue SIPTU unless airport guarantee
provided
Ireland Online, Ireland

25/03/2004 - 13:50:50 

Ryanair is to take its battle with SIPTU to a full
High Court hearing unless the trade union confirms
that there will be no more airport closures.

The low fares airline Head of Personnel, Eddie Wilson
said today: "SIPTU have closed or threatened closure
to Dublin Airport three times in nine months, causing
chaos and disruption to the travel plans of many
thousands of ordinary passengers.

"The Aer Rianta monopoly has repeatedly failed to
provide necessary fire cover, in order to keep the
runways open. 

"This is no way to run an international airport, and
it is unacceptable that Aer Rianta still have no
effective contingency plan to keep the runways open
and allow ordinary passengers to travel during periods
of industrial unrest.

"We have written to SIPTU and confirmed that if we
receive their confirmation that there will be no more
airport closures, then we would withdraw the High
Court action. To date, we have not yet received a
reply. 

"Ryanair has no difficulty with SIPTU members taking
industrial action to highlight their concerns, but
these demonstrations must not result in the closure of
the airports - essential national services - resulting
in travel disruptions for up to 50,000 passengers per
day.

"This rollercoaster of closures and threatened
closures of Dublin Airport must be stopped. The
airport is an essential national service and ordinary
Irish people and visitors to Ireland must not be held
to ransom in this way," Wilson added.

An airport strike was narrowly averted last week over
the St Patrick's Day celebrations when SIPTU postponed
their action.

A further national transport strike involving bus and
rail services was narrowly averted when Union leaders
received a letter from Taoiseach Bertie Ahern
addressing their concerns over job security.

However, this caused tension within the union with the
rank and file believing its leaders stance to be
"unlawful".

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