Hundreds of workers at Dublin Airport are expected to stage a one-hour stoppage at lunchtime tomorrow in support of 150 British Midland ground staff, whose strike is now entering its fifth week. Union sources maintained this morning there could be some disruptions to flights but an Aer Lingus spokesman said that the national airline expected all its schedules to operate as normal.
The 150 British Midland ground staff are on strike as a result of a row over compensation for transferring to a new employer. Their union the ATGWU has applied to the Congress of Trade Unions for an all out picket and that could be sanctioned as early as tomorrow.
However, tensions at Dublin Airport are growing and at lunchtime tomorrow several hundred workers from Aer Rianta, Aer Lingus and a number of other companies are expected to stage a one-hour stoppage in support of the strikers. The stoppage is expected to include members of the airport police and fire service.
Union sources say that this morning the action is likely to lead to some disruptions of flights but an Aer Lingus spokesman said that the company expected all its schedules to operate as normal. Lunchtime is normally one of its lightest times of the day with fewer than half a dozen flights due to take off.
However, the ATGWU is expected to resume secondary picketing of Aer Rianta tomorrow and if an all out picket is granted this week the situation at Dublin Airport could become even more volatile.
In a separate development, Aer Lingus has cancelled three transatlantic flights scheduled for tomorrow due to severe weather conditions forecast for the East Coast of the US. One flight to Boston and two to New York have been cancelled. The Aer Lingus service to Chicago is expected to operate as normal while a decision on the Baltimore/Washington flight will be made tomorrow morning.
