Concern over long-term effects of Ryanair dispute

The Cabinet is to be briefed on the Ryanair dispute today by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Enterprise, …

The Cabinet is to be briefed on the Ryanair dispute today by the Tanaiste and Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Enterprise, Ms Harney.

It is understood that the Government is extremely concerned at the effect the strike might have on its long-term relations with the trade union movement, and particularly on the prospects of resolving the vexed problem of trade union recognition.

A high-level group on union recognition set up under Partnership 2000, comprising senior civil servants, trade unionists and employer representatives, has just reported to Ms Harney. Already some trade unionists have been critical of the group's failure to recommend sanctions on companies like Ryanair which refuse to recognise unions.

Last night the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Peter Cassells, said that "the intransigence shown by Ryanair in refusing to allow staff to be represented by a union is totally unacceptable to Congress, to our affiliated unions representing 750,000 workers and to all fair-minded people".

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He said that the attitude of the Government and of the Irish Business and Employers' Confederation to the dispute - and to the general issue of union recognition - would have a major bearing on the development of social partnership and the future of national agreements.

The Labour spokesman on enterprise, trade and employment, Mr Tommy Broughan, called on Ms Harney to instruct the Labour Court to intervene in the dispute. However, sources close to the Minister said yesterday that it was not Government practice to intervene in union recognition disputes.

It is understood the Labour Relations Commission offered its services to Ryanair last week but the company declined.

Yesterday SIPTU said that Ryanair had to cancel eight flights scheduled to provide services between Dublin and Stansted, Luton, Gatwick and Bournemouth. But a spokeswoman for the company said that none of the flights concerned had been scheduled to operate yesterday.