Senior Fórsa officials met with transport minister Eamon Ryan and his minister of state Hildegarde Naughton last month to seek the return of Shannon airport to the DAA group. The unions campaigned vigorously against the decision to split Shannon from the group at the end of 2012.

Matt Staunton and Johnny Fox joined representatives of the Shannon group of unions, and also told the ministers that state aid should be withheld from companies that imposed redundancies and off-shoring.

They said Aer Lingus’s decision to put three of its Shannon-based transatlantic aircrafts out to tender illustrated the vulnerability of Ireland’s regional airports. The move could leave Shannon with just one US route from next year, which would hugely damage the regional economy.

Fórsa deputy general secretary Matt Staunton said activity at the base had dropped to practically zero. “The only response from the employer has been to launch a voluntary severance scheme, with no plans to recommence activities,” he said.

Fórsa and other unions are also set to meet the company’s chief executive next Monday (5th of October), and will demand the withdrawal of a 10% pay cut imposed on staff.

The union will also demand the withdrawal of a voluntary severance scheme, which was also introduced by management without agreement. It’s not known how many workers have left the company as a result.

Fórsa official Johnny Fox said he would also be quizzing management on its plans for the long-term security of jobs in the company.

Speaking in advance of the meeting, he indicated that it was unlikely any agreement would emerge. He said this would lead to a dispute, in which case the union would likely refer the issues to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC).

Negotiations are continuing on a career break scheme, a reduced working hours’ scheme, and proposed changes in work practices. And the unions were in discussions on the possible terms of a voluntary severance scheme before management jumped the gun.

The Irish aviation sector has experienced the biggest decline in Europe, according to a recent report from the Department of Business Enterprise and Innovation.

Meanwhile, Fórsa members employed in the aviation sector have been campaigning for securing greater state and political support for the industry, which has been hit particularly hard by the Covid-19 pandemic.

The campaign, co-ordinated by the union’s services and enterprises division, has also mobilised aviation workers in airlines, airports and other employments connected to the industry, to write to their local TDs seeking support and highlighting the very precarious circumstances in which the aviation industry is currently operating as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

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