SIPTU President Jack O'Connor has described the decision to privatise Aer Lingus as dreadful and one the country would live to regret.
Mr O'Connor said if the concerns of his members regarding pay and job security were not addressed, his union would have no alternative but to resort to industrial action.
After a two hour meeting with transport Minister Martin Cullen today SIPTU says union representatives heard nothing positive about the part privatisation of Aer Lingus.
National Industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said they told the minister they found it strange that the cabinet would consider making a final decision on privatising Aer Lingus two days before the joint Oireachtas committee on transport debates the issue.
He said union representatives had received no further comfort or concrete assurances on job security, pensions, outsourcing and other issues of concern to staff.
He said they had told the Minister that they would have no alternative but to protect themselves with industrial action if any precipitative action were taken by the government or the company.
