A major political campaign to keep Aer Lingus in public ownership was launched yesterday by the State's biggest union, Siptu. It plans to lobby TDs, senators and councillors to oppose the privatisation of the national airline.
Selling Aer Lingus, the union said, would make "little sense" and could result in a repeat of the Eircom "privatisation debacle".
It could lead to the airline being stripped of assets such as its landing slots at Heathrow airport and its eventual sale to a competitor such as British Airways.
The union wants the Government to adopt an Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) proposal to transfer Aer Lingus and other commercial State enterprises to a a new State holding company. This company could raise equity for State enterprises while retaining them in public ownership, Ictu argues.
The Government announced plans in May to sell a majority stake in Aer Lingus, while retaining a "golden share" of at least 25 per cent.
Announcing the union's campaign yesterday, Siptu president Jack O'Connor said it accepted the Government had made a decision. However, the decision taken had been that no further public funds would be committed to Aer Lingus. The Government could adopt the Ictu proposal.
He said the Government had made it clear in May it would not rule out any trade union propositions on the best way forward.
Siptu has published a pamphlet setting out the arguments against privatisation. A New Flight Path for Aer Lingus - The Alternative to Selling Our National Airline is to be distributed to more than 8,000 union shop stewards. It describes the decision to sell a majority share-holding as a triumph for the "free marketeers in the Cabinet", and as a "victory for ideology over common sense".