Mayo TD urges Government action to save Aer Lingus jobs
Teachta Conway-Walsh said to Tánaiste Simon Harris that the Government must now engage with management and unions to ensure workers’ rights are protected and all impacted workers receive full and fair redundancy packages.
Sinn Féin Enterprise, Tourism and Employment spokesperson, Rose Conway-Walsh TD, has said Government must intervene and make every effort to save jobs at Aer Lingus following this morning’s announcement that up to 500 jobs could be cut at the airline.
In the Dáil earlier today, Teachta Conway-Walsh said to Tánaiste Simon Harris that the Government must now engage with management and unions to ensure workers’ rights are protected and all impacted workers receive full and fair redundancy packages.
Teachta Conway-Walsh said: “This announcement this morning is devastating for the 500 workers who will be told their jobs are at risk and it will cause enormous worry and uncertainty for them and their families.
“The Government must now engage with Aer Lingus and all relevant stakeholders to explore every possible option to minimise the number of jobs that will be lost.
“Aer Lingus is a successful company, having recorded operating profits of €282m last year, while its parent company IAG enjoyed operating profits of over €5 billion. The workers in Dublin, Cork, Shannon and around the country who have contributed to that success deserve every effort being made to save their jobs and protect their livelihoods.
“The Government must ensure that workers are treated fairly and with transparency, given robust redundancy packages, proper consultation and access to relevant supports. They must also commit to reforming statutory redundancy legislation for when mass layoffs like this occur.
“The immediate focus now must be on protecting these workers, safeguarding jobs at the airline and providing certainty for those whose futures have been thrown into doubt.”