30ú Bealtaine 2002

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Sinn Fein offers support to Aer Lingus workers

Sinn Fein TD for Dublin South West Sean Crowe today called on the Taoiseach to intervene to ensure that the current crisis at Aer Lingus is resolved.

Deputy Crowe said:

"Today's one day strike affects more than the pilots and management. Aer Lingus staff from all sections of the company are fearful that their jobs could be lost. I want to extend the full support of my party to those workers. I am well aware of the frustration and anxiety that many of them feel especially since their long term future is uncertain.

"The company has yet to suitably explain why planes must be grounded for three days as a result of a one day strike. The government must look for answers for this and indeed the management's entire attitude to this crisis. Some Aer Lingus staff members feel that the company is deliberately intent on bringing the air line into examinership or receivership. That this opinion exists is extremely worrying. This alone should spur the Taoiseach to make a personal intervention to resolve this matter.

"All sides in this dispute must enter into dialogue. Aer Lingus belongs to the people of this state and therefore we all have a vested interest to ensure that its staff and management have a positive working relationship. Sinn Fein fully supports the right of workers to partake in Industrial action but we want to see the current difficulties resolved as speedily as possible. If Bertie Ahern can offer to intervene in a football dispute then he must have a duty to do so in this serious issue."

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