The Government Chief Whip, Tom Kitt, has described as ‘nothing short of despicable’ an Aer Lingus discussion document suggesting ways of getting rid of staff.
Mr Kitt told an Oireachtas committee that the proposals had ‘no place in the modern work place’, saying they were ‘cruel and inhumane’.
However, Fine Gael's Richard Bruton said Mr Kitt’s remarks ‘smacked of megaphone diplomacy’.
Mr Bruton said he did not support the tactics described, but added that the Government's record on Aer Lingus was very poor.
Earlier today, Aer Lingus said its 2,900 staff will receive letters later today in respect of the discussion document on how voluntary redundancies might be achieved at the airline.
The letter seeks to pour cold water on suggestions that senior management was prepared to engage in cynical practices to make working at the airline uncomfortable.
Aer Lingus met its media advisers today in an effort to limit damage from this morning's revelations in relation to the 12-point discussion document drawn up in 2004 to ensure the redundancy programme at the airline was a success.
It has also met union officials to assure them that industrial relations practices have not changed from already agreed paths.
Document on ways to achieve redundancies
The controversial discussion document indicated a range of options including the so called ‘tap on the shoulder’ approach to some supervisory staff that they had no future with the airline.
Another involved downgrading of cabin crew's traditional liveried uniform in favour of t-shirts and jumpsuits and tedious training programmes for pilots.
This morning Aer Lingus Chairman John Sharman said today's letter would not contain an apology, a measure which IMPACT has called for.
However, Mr Sharman said the document was not a plan and would never be a plan under his stewardship. And he pointed out that the redundancy programme at the airline, ultimately oversubscribed, had been extremely generous.
IMPACT General Secretary Michael Landers claimed attempts had been made to implement much of what was recommended under the 12 points listed in the document.
He said some of these measures were resisted to the point of the union going to the Labour Court, particularly in relation to the denial of in-week special leave.
Mr Landers said he would be seeking assurances that none of the recommendations would resurface as future proposals.
And he emphasised the urgent need to develop a new relationship of trust and confidence between management, staff and unions at the airline.
Earlier, SIPTU said it was not surprised by details of the Aer Lingus discussion document.
The union's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, said SIPTU had already warned its members that management would be likely to employ tactics to put psychological pressure on people to leave.
