Around 200 staff at aircraft maintenance company SR Technics will vote on proposed cost-cutting measures tomorrow in a decision that may determine its future.
The company and unions agreed a set of proposals at 3am today following more than 13 hours of talks brokered by Kevin Foley from the Labour Relations Commission.
The proposals will be outlined to employees tomorrow morning before a vote is taken.
SR Technics says new working arrangements are vital to allow it sign up to a key maintenance deal with Aer Lingus. The company is looking to introduce 12-hour shifts for line maintenance staff and a 11-hour night shift, as well as other cost-cutting measures.
According to a spokeswoman for the firm, if the proposals are not accepted by staff the company will have to withdraw from the Aer Lingus contract with the result that "the future will be very uncertain for SR Technics". The company employs a total of 1,200 at Dublin Airport but less than 200 will be involved in the maintenance contract.
Aer Lingus has told SR Technics that if it is not in a position to sign up for the ten-year contract from 1st June 2008, the airline would have "no option but to withdraw from the current process and seek alternative sources for the provision of these maintenance services".
The SR Technics spokeswoman said the company would not be in a position to respond to Aer Lingus until the result of the ballot is known tomorrow evening.
William Quigley, regional office with Unite and chairman of the craft group of unions in SR Technics said staff were being put in an "dire situation".
"You are asking employees to accept an agreement and saying that if they don't 1,200 people will lose their jobs. It is a very serious situation and tough on those who have to make the decision."
He said management had made clear that if the workers do not accept the proposals the company would be wound down. Mr Quigley said the union would seek to have a ballot result presented to the company "before close of business tomorrow".
