THE FUTURE of the SR Technics aircraft maintenance plant at Dublin airport, which employs nearly 1,500 staff, is uncertain this weekend following a rejection of new work practice reforms by a group of 20 aircraft handlers.
In a statement last night the company said it was disappointed it had not reached agreement with all unions at the facility on new working arrangements. It said these were necessary to allow the company to enter into a new 10-year contract for line maintenance with Aer Lingus.
The company said the decision by a group of 20 aircraft handlers, who are represented by Siptu, to reject the proposals which were brokered at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) earlier this week, meant that it could not now sign the contract with Aer Lingus. "This development will be reviewed with our parent company and the other stakeholders involved," it said.
SR Technics previously indicated that the the retention of the Aer Lingus line maintenance contract was crucial to its future viability. Aer Lingus had told SR Technics last week that if it was not in a position to sign up for the 10-year contract from the beginning of June that it would have to seek alternative arrangements.
SR Technics, formerly known as Team Aer Lingus, lost three other Aer Lingus aircraft maintenance contracts earlier this year.
Under the proposed work practice reforms, the aircraft handlers would have had to operate 12-hour shifts and carry out refuelling work which was previously performed by other personnel.
It is understood that 19 aircraft handlers took part in the vote and that 12 were against the proposals with seven in favour.
The work practice reform plan drawn up at the LRC was accepted by about 200 craft workers at the company, who are represented by the trade union Unite, in a ballot yesterday.
Siptu said last night it did not believe that the difficulties at SR Technics involving the aircraft handlers were insurmountable.
Siptu said that its aviation branch at Dublin airport had been in contact with the company last night and would be available all weekend.
The Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment, Mary Coughlan, last night expressed concern at the situation in SR Technics.
She encouraged both unions and management at the company to re-engage with the disputes resolution machinery of the State "as a matter of urgency".
SR Technics recently announced that it would not be paying staff the next phase of the national pay agreement, and accepted that this was partly due to the loss of the three other Aer Lingus contracts.
The company employs about 1,200 staff directly while about 300 additional personnel work for contractors during peak periods.