Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)

They have already imposed yellow pack contracts on new entrants, to be extended to all existing employees. Only last September, a letter to SIPTU signed by both the chairman and chief executive stated that following flotation, Aer Lingus will continue to adhere to all existing collective agreements and continue with existing consultative and negotiating arrangements in accordance with agreed practice and legislative requirements. The letter also stated that "continuous improvement in efficiency, productivity and cost-effectiveness will be achieved through a process of consultation and agreement between management and the signatory Trade Unions". A few months later, that piece of paper might as well be flying all over Dublin Airport in the slipstream of Aer Lingus jets.

In 2005, when the GAMA and Irish Ferries exploitation scandals were exposed, the Taoiseach at least verbally opposed a race to the bottom in terms of workers' rights. Now this company of which he, as Head of Government, still owns 25%, is pushing workers' conditions towards the bottom and adopting one of the fundamentals of the race to the bottom, which is anti-trade union action without negotiation.

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