lostcarpark: (Calvin)
lostcarpark ([personal profile] lostcarpark) wrote2004-01-22 09:53 am

Only in Ireland...

Union workers at the country's three main airports planned a two-hour stoppage to coincide with when European ministers would be arriving for a meeting this afternoon. This was intended to embarras the government because they're not happy that their jobs will still be secure when the airports are split into three seperate companies.

The main bus drivers union also organised a "meeting" to coincide with this stoppage, as a sign of solidarity.

Yesterday, the airport unions reached agreement with the government and called off their action.

Of course, the bus drivers decided to go ahead anyway, so there will be disruption to bus services from about 9:30 till early afternoon.

[identity profile] jamesb.livejournal.com 2004-01-22 12:12 pm (UTC)(link)
The bus driver stoppage is unofficial I understand.

All the ministers were in by about 7pm last nite anyhow, and there is a thought that SIPTU would face serius hassle if they had stopped when the only people to get discommoded would br joe public whichy would have been bad.

Of course the real issue is lack of political will, the army can and have equipment in baldonnell for fires, and could fill in, easily, also baldonnel recently had a ryan air 737 land there, and I am sure they can and could accomadate larger jets

meanwhile, teh government forces flights to stop at shannon
in an effort to keep people in work, something youd hear in hitlers germany or stalinist USSR

YOU MUST STOP IN OUR LITTLE AIRPORT AND ALL YOUR CUSTUMERS PAY LANDING FEES<

jumbo

[identity profile] lostcarpark.livejournal.com 2004-01-22 12:39 pm (UTC)(link)
I think building a passengar terminal at Baldonnell would be a much better solution than a second terminal at Dublin Airport, provided that proper infrastructure was provided (something that's still lacking at the first airport). Dublin could easily support two airports.

The Shannon stopover is just daft, and it's only a matter of time before it fizzles out. But if the airport is given a free reign to run its own affairs, it should be able to pull in its own business, tough perhaps on a smaller scale.

[identity profile] omegar.livejournal.com 2004-01-22 12:20 pm (UTC)(link)
Thanks for the warning, must add 30 minutes to todays travel time.

i won't say it could only happen in Ireland, but if it can happen in another country let me know so i won't go there ;)