Rhetoric from Varadkar not enough to end Aer Lingus dispute – FF

Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport and Tourism Timmy Dooley has said the lack of leadership from Government is unnecessarily prolonging the dispute at Aer Lingus.

He was commenting after the IMPACT trade union announced two further days of industrial action on June 16th and June 18th next.

Deputy Dooley said, “The longer this dispute goes on the more our tourism sector suffers. Passengers are getting increasingly frustrated, the company is losing money and the workers are losing faith in the industrial relations process. As the busy summer season gets underway, we need decisive intervention from the Government to prevent prolonged strike action that will ultimately hit our economy.

“I am urging the Minister for Transport and Tourism Leo Varadkar to convene talks with the parties concerned, separately at first if necessary, and explore a basis for negotiations under an independent chairperson. I appreciate that all sides have been exploring options through the State’s industrial relations machinery, but the format to date has not worked. We clearly need intervention now to bring all parties together and resolve this once and for all without further disruption to passengers.

“To date the Minister has merely commented on this dispute from the sidelines. But it has become very clear now that rhetoric will not resolve this matter. We need a meaningful and comprehensive solution that sets Aer Lingus and its staff on a course of co-operation and progress for the airline. This requires some leadership from Minister Varadkar.”