IMPACT members working at the Dublin and Shannon Airport Authorities will be balloted next month on proposals to address the IASS pension deficit. IMPACT is one of four unions balloting workers at the airport authorities in the coming weeks.

Assistant general secretary Johnny Fox said that preparations for a ballot are now underway. He said that information bulletins for members are being prepared and will be emailed out in the coming days, and will also be posted to the dedicated IASS webpage on the IMPACT website. "The ballot will be open from Monday 8th December and will close at 1pm on Sunday 14th December. Our advice to members is make sure they exercise their vote, this is a vitally important ballot. Don’t let someone else decide on these proposals for you.

"We're holding a series of information meetings from 1st December which will give members the opportunity to ask questions and inform themselves about the proposals. I'm encouraging members to attend one of these meetings if they can because it's the best opportunity to fully inform themselves about what this means for their future pension entitlements" he said.

Meetings will take place as follows:

• Monday 1st December -  Park Hotel, Cork Airport 10.30 and 14.00

• Tuesday 2nd December - North Terminal Dublin Airport at 11.00, 13.00 and 18.30                         

• Thursday 4th December - Oakwood Arms Hotel Shannon at 12.00

Earlier this month, a ballot conducted by the ICTU airport group in Aer Lingus votedby a margin of 70% to 30% in favour of the proposals, which were developed by the specially appointed Expert Group on the pension scheme. Aer Lingus will hold an EGM of its shareholders next month at which the board will seek approval for a €190.7m payment into new pension plans.