Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure IE-2020-36/1513 – measures in Ireland
Country |
Ireland
, applies locally
|
Time period | Temporary, 01 September 2020 – 30 April 2022 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Bipartite collective agreements |
Category |
Protection of workers, adaptation of workplace
– Changes of working hours or work arrangements |
Author | Roisin Farelly (IRN Publishing) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 30 November 2020 (updated 26 January 2021) |
A restructuring agreement was concluded between the DAA (which operates Dublin and Cork airports) and unions representing over 2,000 staff at the airports.
Prior to union ballots on the agreement in September, DAA chief executive Dalton Phillips set out the collapse in air traffic in Dublin airport with just 0.5 million passengers in August 2020, as opposed to 3.47 million in August 2019. Cork Airport had just 1,200 passengers a day in August, and an average airline load factor of 30%, as opposed to 92% in August 2019.
The ‘New Ways of Working’ agreement provides that no pay increases will be considered until April 2022 “at the earliest” and that grading, equalisation or other retrospective cost increasing claims will not be made during that period. Staff will remain on 80% wages for 80% hours.
The agreement also implements additional cost savings and flexibilities including new ways of working, for example, working across the two Dublin terminals, team-based working, roster changes and responsibility for COVID-19 hygiene. There is also changes to working hours and mandatory annual leave to date, acceptance of change and responsiveness to COVID-19.
The agreement has been accepted by 93% of unionised staff, representing over 2,000 employees of the airport operator.
Craft workers and two small operative groups rejected the restructuring. This includes about 130 craft workers, members of Unite and Connect; about 20 baggage operatives (who oversee the operation of the baggage belts); and a smaller group of airfield operatives, who maintain the runways and airfield. Both groups are represented by SIPTU. These workers were moved to 60% pay and hours (effectively a three-day week) with effect from 11 October 2020.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Applies to all workers |
Sector specific set of companies
|
Does not apply to citizens |
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
Trade unions
Company / Companies |
Companies
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | Agreed (outcome) incl. social partner initiative | No involvement |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
A restructuring agreement was concluded between the DAA (which operates Dublin and Cork airports) and unions representing over 2,000 staff at the airports. The unions involved are SIPTU, Forsa, Mandate, Connect and Unite.
The agreement has been accepted by 93% of unionised staff, representing over 2,000 employees of the airport operator. These staff are represented by SIPTU, Forsa and Mandate, Craft workers and two small operative groups rejected the restructuring.
This case is sector-specific
Economic area | Sector (NACE level 2) |
---|---|
H - Transportation And Storage | H51 Air transport |
This case is not occupation-specific.
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Dublin Airport restructuring plan, measure IE-2020-36/1513 (measures in Ireland), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/IE-2020-36_1513.html
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