. For an island nation increasingly dependent of high value, high technology products, the airfreight mode of reaching international markets is critical to survival. Hence, the ability of a group of employees to totally disrupt , and put at risk the livelihoods of hundreds of thousands of people uninvolved in their dispute, is unacceptable and must be addressed in the airtraffic controllers terms of employment. Effectively, the airtraffic controllers have the ability to put in place an unofficial picket, which is unpassable by the wider industry that are not in any way involved in their dispute. In these circumstances the IEA call on the Minister for Transport, Mr Noel Dempsey, as a matter of urgency to insert into the terms of employment of the airtraffic controllers a ‘no strike ‘clause.

John Whelan, Chief Executive of the IEA, stated;

‘’Each day of the year, we export approximately €215 million of goods by air, much of which is temperature controlled, time sensitive pharmaceuticals. Any disruption to the supply line creates instant problems to our trading partners .If we want to remain competitive in the pharmaceutical market we have to be able to assure our clients abroad of the security of the supply line to them from Ireland.’’

In general, the employment labour protection laws are very robust in Ireland, and give all employees a very wide range of protection measures and means of address of any infringement of their rights, and by and large do not need the strike option in any event. But where, the strike option is capable of creating a totally disproportionate effect and threatening the national interest, as with the air traffic controllers, and then the strike option must be removed.

ENDS;

For further information contact John F. Whelan, 087 9271243.