DUBLIN, Ireland-
Three major airports suffered disruption and delays Thursday when members of Ireland's largest labor union staged a 90-minute work stoppage over plans to privatize the Aer Lingus airline.
The Services, Industrial, Professional and Technical Union–whose members include Aer Lingus cabin crew, baggage handlers, cleaners and caterers at the Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports–opposes the government's plan to float the airline on the Irish Stock Exchange in September.
The government was expected to press ahead with privatization after a parliamentary vote on the matter Thursday night. Workers resumed checking in passengers for Aer Lingus flights about 11:15 a.m., 90 minutes after they left work to attend union meetings. SIPTU's national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny, warned that the union would contemplate longer stoppages, and possibly an all-out strike, if the government does not offer sufficient safeguards on retaining current levels of job security and positions, pension benefits, pay and other perks.
