SRT to brief staff on future operation of firm

SOME 1,200 staff at aircraft maintenance firm SR Technics (SRT) will meet with management in Dublin this morning about the future operations of the company.

This follows talks between group chief executive Bernd Kessler and Tánaiste Mary Coughlan on the company’s “serious difficulties” yesterday.

Management will meet with staff in Dublin airport at 9.30am. Unions will be briefed by the chief executive at 8.30am on “the future operations of the company”, a Siptu spokesman said.

Tánaiste and Minister for Enterprise Ms Coughlan met with Mr Kessler yesterday afternoon to discuss “the serious difficulties being faced by the company”, a spokeswoman for Ms Coughlan said.

The Swiss-based company last night confirmed that the “internal meetings” would take place but declined to comment on the reasons for the briefings.

The Dublin plant was formerly known as Team Aer Lingus and employs some 1,200 permanent staff and 300 seasonal staff.

Labour transport spokesman Tommy Broughan expressed concern last night at the “very disturbing reports coming from Dublin airport”.

“Workers and union representatives are earnestly hoping that there are no job losses at SR Technics,” he said.

He described the company as one of the “landmark centres of employment in the north and west sides of Dublin”. Concern for thousands of “dependent jobs in the wider economy” was also expressed by Mr Broughan.

SRT has lost significant contracts with both Gulf Air and Aer Lingus over the last year.

The loss of a contract with one of the company’s largest customers, Gulf Air, “shocked” staff earlier this year. This maintenance contract is due to terminate in June.

Last February, the future of the Irish operation was uncertain when it lost three of its four maintenance contracts with Aer Lingus, its largest customer. All four contracts were understood to be worth some €65 million.

SRT had to change work practices following the loss of the Aer Lingus contracts in order to save an estimated €5 million.

An industrial row with 21 aircraft handlers over these terms and conditions of employment put the last remaining contract with Aer Lingus in doubt.

However, in June the aircraft handlers agreed to the new proposals as a result the company signed the 10-year line maintenance contract with Aer Lingus.

SRT’s operations include Switzerland, the UK and Bahrain.