King says DAA board not told of plan to seek injunction to stop Siptu strike

The board of the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) never considered the issue of the company seeking a High Court injunction to prevent a planned strike going ahead last week, the vice-president of Siptu Patricia King has said.

Ms King, a Government-appointed member of the board of the DAA, also told union representatives in the company yesterday that she had received no notification about the move by management to seek an injunction.

Conflict of interest claims
Last weekend media reports said some Siptu members were preparing a motion calling on Ms King to step down from the board on the grounds that continuing to serve as a director represented a conflict of interest.

In a note to Siptu representatives in the DAA yesterday Ms King said: “It is inconsequential to me personally whether I remain a member of this board or otherwise. I have never derived any personal benefit from serving on any such body.

“Indeed, I have never drawn down one cent in terms of stipend or expenses as this has been my policy long before it became a rule of the union.”

She said the question of initiating legal proceedings seeking injunctive relief against industrial action or otherwise never came before the board for consideration. She also said there had been no contact or notification to her as a board member about it.

“If the question does arise as to whether Siptu representatives currently serving on the Dublin Airport Authority Board are conflicted . . . I am only too willing to have that discussion . . . and act in concert with our members’ wishes,” said Ms King.