The proposed two-hour stoppage at Aer Rianta airports looks likely to go ahead tomorrow as unions expressed doubts about any change of view, saying recent remarks by the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, were unhelpful".
The action is planned at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. over proposals to break up the company.
The unions will meet this morning in an attempt to avert the action. They will consider and discuss the Minister's response to correspondence from the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr David Begg, last week.
However, union officials yesterday described as unhelpful the Minister's remarks in Friday's Irish Times in which he said he expected to have a Cabinet decision to proceed with developing a second terminal at Dublin Airport before Christmas and hoped to see the project begin next year.
Mr Mick Halpenny of SIPTU said the meeting would consider the recent correspondence as much clarification was needed.
"Obviously everything that happened in the last few days was less than helpful and could be seen as provocative at a time when we have a very serious dispute and concerns," he said.
Mr Arthur Hall of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Workers' Union said the Minister's statement had turned up the volume and would have a significant bearing on the outcome of the meeting.
"The Minister is playing silly games. David Begg wrote to him but only got a bland response. Then on Friday came the Minister's reply. This has disappointed some of the unions. There was some glimmer of hope before but now I can't see the action being called off," Mr Hall said.
Ms Linda Tanham of Mandate said the unions has been awaiting the Minister's response to Mr Begg's letter and then he made a statement about the terminal.
"The Minister is not being helpful at a time when workers are extremely concerned about their future. At this stage, I would, in light of the Minister's statement, say that I doubt if there will be a change of view. However, that is for the unions to debate at the meeting," she said.
The IMPACT union has indicated that its members will not be taking part in the stoppage. Mr Bernard Harbor said, however, they would be attending the meeting today.
A spokesman for the Minister said yesterday that Mr Brennan had written to the unions and replied to Mr Begg last Friday, saying an early meeting would be set up between them and Department officials. Government policy was that the break-up of Aer Rianta was settled and concerns employees had were open to be addressed by a third party.
"The unions balloted about industrial action and it was taken on the basis of job security, terms and conditions, pensions, not on the break-up of Aer Rianta. The second terminal is part of the reform so it's not directly linked to the industrial action," the spokesman said.The Minister had said there would be no compulsory redundancies and Department officials would sit down and discuss the issues.
Aer Rianta has carried advertisements about possible disruption. It says it is working with airlines to minimise any disruption. It also advises passengers to check in for all flights as normal.