SIPTU's dilemma

Following a week of negotiations between Aer Lingus and SIPTU in a bid to prevent outsourcing of almost 1,300 ground support jobs at the former state airline, it looks like the deal may well have become a poison chalice for the union. Today's Irish Independent reports that SIPTU will not automatically hold a ballot on the deal brokered at the back end of this week until they have broad agreement from the workforce that they actually want to vote on the proposals. Some sections of the airline have voted down proposals for cost improvement on several occasions in the past. The latest proposal would allow workers to avail of a severance package or contract buy out with a minimum value of €30,000 and return on a contract of reduced value which would see average gross pay drop to around €38,200.

SIPTU may have been motivated by self preservation in entering the talks with Aer Lingus as an outsource program would have decimated their numbers in Dublin airport, but have they now got a deal which they cannot sell to the members.