Servisair baggage handlers have organised a sit-in at the company's premises in Dublin Airport in protest against its decision to use strike-breakers brought in from the UK. However, they have not interfered with the operation of the new staff and no delays were reported of flights where Servisair provides baggage-handling facilities.
There was one mishap on a Delta flight from North America where the luggage "igloo" for Shannon-bound passengers was delivered to Dublin and the Dublin "igloo" was unloaded at Shannon. A spokesman for Servisair denied SIPTU claims that this was due to inexperience by strike-breakers and said the baggage had been "incorrectly labelled at source".
The company would not say what action, if any, it might take against the SIPTU members sitting in at its passenger and cargo centres. About 130 baggage handlers are involved.
The strike seems set to be long and bitter. The company is expected to fly in more UK-based staff if necessary to maintain services. It did so with relatively little disruption during the last dispute at Dublin Airport two years ago. But that dispute took place in January, and it remains to be seen if the new arrangements will work as effectively during the busy Christmas season.
Servisair has defended its decision to introduce new workers and work practices unilaterally. It says it requires baggage handlers to work in teams unloading cargo and passenger planes instead of separate teams for each category.
"Virtually everywhere else in the business including Dublin all ground handling companies use the same teams of people," a company spokesman said.