All the main political parties have been invited to attend a SIPTU meeting at Dublin Airport on Monday to discuss the trade union recognition dispute at Ryanair. A by-election is pending in the local North Dublin constituency in March, and most of the parties had confirmed by last night that they would be sending representatives.
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus announced a new low "Companion Fare" for continental destinations of £175 yesterday. On two of the routes, Dublin-Paris and DublinBrussels, Aer Lingus will be competing directly with Ryanair.
SIPTU widened its dispute with Ryanair yesterday by warning the company that the union would report it to the Health and Safety Authority if it continued refusing to recognise the safety representative selected by the baggage-handlers earlier this week. The union wrote to the company on Thursday advising it of the appointment.
Yesterday the company responded to SIPTU by letter saying: "It is Ryanair policy to deal direct with all our people on all issues, including health and safety matters. This will continue to be the case and any `advice' or `selection' from any outside agency, including SIPTU, is superfluous."
The SIPTU representative, Mr Paul O'Sullivan, wrote back saying that recognition of the baggagehandlers' safety representative was not discretionary.