Shannon Airport staff consider action over 20pc pay cut until 2023

Union officials said it is one of the options to be discussed at meetings next week after they rejected a recovery plan put forward by their employer.

The Shannon Airport Authority has told staff it plans a voluntary redundancy scheme, but unions said it does not include lump sum payments unlike a similar Dublin Airport Authority plan.

"Industrial action is an option that the airport's staff will more than likely consider," said Johnny Fox of Fórsa.

He said meetings are planned with representatives of the workforce of more than 300 people today, and management tomorrow.

In a letter to staff this week, the chief executive of Shannon Group Mary Considine said passenger numbers are down 96pc.

"In the last week, we have seen some resumption of flights with Ryanair, however we are still operating at about 20pc of where we should be for the month of July," she said.

"Economic forecasts and airlines are predicting that air services will not get back to 2019 levels for at least three years."

She said a voluntary severance scheme, pay cuts from September 1 for those earning over €30,000 a year, reduced working hours and career breaks will be discussed with workers.

Siptu sector organiser Neil McGowan warned that the pay cuts are completely unacceptable and said unions will resist them "in the strongest possible way".

He said the airport is key to the economy of the mid-west region, and the announcement represents a serious risk to jobs.

Mr Fox said a government task force on aviation reports tomorrow and the company should have waited for its recommendations before announcing the cuts.

A Shannon Group spokesperson said in light of the impact that the pandemic has had on the aviation industry, the CEO of Shannon Group has written to staff at Shannon Airport on a series of proposed cost reduction measures. "As we are in dialogue with employees and union representatives it would be inappropriate to comment further," she said.

In a submission to the Aviation Recovery Taskforce, Shannon Group asks for funding to secure "strategic routes" and extend the wage subsidy scheme for tourism and aviation until at least March 2021. It also seeks a two year waiver of commercial rates.