Aer Lingus workers to picket Ahern offices

Aer Lingus workers are planning to picket Taoiseach Bertie Ahern's constituency office in Drumcondra today in protest at the Government's handling of the sell-off of the State airline.

The workers, who are members of Siptu, are angry at the way the majority of the airline was sold off to private investors, putting it at risk of being taken over by Ryanair.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary tabled a €1.48 billion offer for the controlling interest in the airline earlier this month.

Siptu and other unions representing Aer Lingus workers say they are totally opposed to such a move.

Campaigners at tonight's protest outside St Luke's, Mr Ahern's constituency office in Drumcondra, will hand out leaflets detailing their concerns about how the privatisation was handled by the Government.

"The Government was warned by this union and others who campaigned against privatisation that there was no need to go down this route, but that once it went to the market it would be open to the possibility of a predatory takeover," the leaflet says.

"Government ministers are wringing their hands like bystanders at a mugging," it continues. "What they need to do, besides mounting a Brussels challenge to the possibility of a new Ryanair monopoly, is to maximise the State's shareholding in Aer Lingus and protect the national interest - the interests of the consumer and the interests of the workforce."

The Government has requested a meeting with European Commission competition officials over the proposed takeover.

"The Government remains fully committed to competition in aviation markets and will not sell its shares in Aer Lingus," Minister for Finance Brian Cowen told the Dáil last week.

"It is vigorously opposed to the emergence of a new monopoly in Irish aviation. An Aer Lingus-Ryanair merger is not in the best interests of competition."

The State owns a 28 per cent share of Aer Lingus, while employees hold a further 15 per cent. Ryanair holds at least 20 per cent.

Last week, Impact trade union staff at Aer Lingus pledged to oppose any attempted takeover by Ryanair.