Gloves were at the top of the agenda for some of the IMPACT members picketing outside Shannon Airport yesterday as they braved a temperature of six degrees and a chilly wind in full uniform.
About 90 of the 350 cabin crew at the airport appeared on the protest at different times during the morning and afternoon. But the temptations of the airport's Estuary Cafe meant the protesters broke their own picket, although nobody was going to get pedantic over a cup of tea and a sandwich.
"A Bus Eireann bus stopped and they were wondering whether they would pass through and we said we were not here to inconvenience people going to the airport," Mr Gerry Clarke, IMPACT cabin crew representative for Shannon, said.
Despite the cold, the atmosphere was positive. "It is good to see so many people out," he said.
About 20 flights to and from Shannon were cancelled, resulting in 3,500 people making alternative arrangements, Mr Tom McInerney, Aer Lingus general manager of corporate affairs, said.
The Aer Lingus cancellations resulted in a loss of two-thirds of the commercial traffic at the airport.
About 20 passengers had turned up on the day looking for their flights, Mr McInerney added. Some passengers travelled on alternative days, others were put on Delta, Continental and British Airways flights and a few were given refunds.