City of Derry airport will close for two days next week because of a public service workers’ strike, it emerged tonight.
More than 30 flights will be grounded with staff like baggage handlers walking out, airport authorities warned.
Intensive negotiations about the Derry City Council-owned site with unions failed to produce a resolution this afternoon.
A spokeswoman for the council said: “Council are extremely disappointed that an agreement could not be reached with the union and as a result City of Derry airport has been forced to suspend its service from midnight on Tuesday July 15th until midnight on Thursday July 17th.”
British Airways and Ryanair services from London, Glasgow, Liverpool, Nottingham and Dublin will be affected.
UK-wide industrial action at leisure centres, housing authorities and councils is planned over a 2.45 per cent pay increase offer which unions believe doesn’t take account of rising inflation.
Derry City Council chief executive John Meehan said: “It is our understanding this decision was made in Belfast and members of City of Derry Airport Committee are surprised at a position that seeks to inconveniences local passengers and put at risk investment and jobs.
“The City of Derry Airport is a critical facility for the North West and there will be minimal support for this decision.”
Dialogue continued this week with unions Unite and Nipsa.
Derry City mayor Gerard Diver regretted the failure to reach an accord. “Council have made Unite fully aware of their concerns about the ramifications for the airport, its passengers and the local economy if the facility is forced to close. Council have tried to support both unions with the planned strike action next week and it is regrettable that such accommodation was not reciprocated.”
Gareth Scott, regional industrial organiser in Derry for Unite, defended the decision.
“This is a national strike, our members indicated that they wished to participate and we will have to see what contingencies the council put in place and the reaction from the airlines,” he said.
“We have rejected the application by the council for an exemption and we are calling all our members with the exception of gravediggers out on strike.”
Last year safety concerns led to a four-day closure of City of Derry airport.
Speaking earlier, Nipsa deputy general secretary Brian Campfield said: “This is the start of a campaign of strike action which is designed to force the return of the employers to the negotiating table and to press them to make a fair and equitable offer.
“The trade unions’ claim for an increase of 6 per cent or 50p per hour, whichever is the greater, is very reasonable taking into account that families are spending an extra £1,000 per year on shopping, weekly fuel bills are up 19 per cent, electricity costs up 15 per cent with coal and gas costs up around 30 per cent.”