Tag Archives: Shannon airport

Sinn Féin TD for Clare, Violet-Anne Wynne, has said that confidence in Shannon Group to properly support workers at Shannon Airport, local businesses and the economy of the Mid-West has been swept away by this week’s announcement of job losses and pay cuts. Sinn Féin TD for Clare, Violet-Anne Wynne said it is quite clear that the “experiment” of a standalone Shannon Airport Authority (SAA) has not worked. “Cutting Shannon adrift from the DAA has been an un unmitigated disaster and this week’s announcement to cut pay and seek redundancies has only strengthened this opinion amongst staff in the Airport. “Two recent managerial departures from the Shannon Group have further created an atmosphere of insecurity at Shannon and workers are genuinely fearful for what is going to come next. I think it is now time for the entire Management team of the Shannon Group to step down and allow a new team to come in and pull the Airport back …

WORKERS reperesentatives at Shannon Airport are demanding talks with management, after plans were revealed for a range of cuts. Speaking on behalf of the Group of Unions (SIPTU, Connect and Forsa), SIPTU Sector Organiser Neil McGowan said: “The announcement by management at Shannon Airport that it intends to cut members pay by up to 20% is completely unacceptable and any unilateral pay cuts will be strongly resisted. The lack of consultation with staff and their representatives is appalling and will not assist in reaching an agreeable solution to the difficulties of the airport company. “The terms of the voluntary redundancy scheme published by Shannon Airport yesterday were not discussed with, and are not acceptable to, the Group of Unions. The Unions will be seeking the same terms regarding voluntary redundancy that are on offer to airport workers in daa (which runs Cork and Dublin airports). “We will be demanding the withdrawal of these proposals and that meaningful negotiations commence without …

Fianna Fáil TD for Clare Cathal Crowe has said that last evening’s announcement about job cuts at Shannon Airport was a premature step. A letter circulated to workers informing them of the decision, which has been attributed to the unprecedented challenges in the aviation sector. Voluntary severance packages, reduced working hours and career breaks are all being offered. “This is a huge blow to not only the airport but also the county and region as a whole,” said Deputy Crowe. “I feel the decision was taken prematurely and it would have been more prudent to wait to see is contained in the July stimulus package in terms of support for the airport. “This week, I’ve been in contact with staff at Shannon Airport and Shannon Heritage and based on their stories, I’ve a list of 29 questions compiled which I will be raising directly with Mary Considine today. “I also intend to seek a meeting with Micheál Martin to discuss …

SHANNON Airport have written to staff today, informing them that workers will face significant pay cuts, while a voluntary severance scheme is also being introduced. Other cost saving measures will include career breaks, reduced working hours, temporary lay offs, a review of the management structure and internal operational structures. In a letter to staff, Chief Executive Mary Considine said that Covid-19 has had a “catastrophic impact” on aviation and tourism. “The outlook for this year, and beyond, is stark and the scale of the challenge we are facing is unprecedented,” she warned. While a number of cost saving measures have already been introduced, she said these “are not enough to bring the airport to anywhere close to breakeven in the medium term. What is required are further and more substantial reductions to our cost base. We need to reduce the number of people employed at the airport, to improve the operational flexibility to enable us to respond more efficiently to …

SENATOR Martin Conway has acknowledged the appointment of a senior minister from the Mid-West would have been beneficial for Clare but pointed there weren’t enough cabinet ministers to share amongst Fianna Fáil, Fine Gael and the Greens in the new coalition. Asked about the criticism of the lack of a senior minister from Donegal all the way down to Limerick, he acknowledged this was fair commentary but believes the new role for Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton will be a major boost for Shannon Airport. He believes that the fact that Minister Naughton will have responsibility for aviation, international travel, road transport and logistics at the cabinet will be very beneficial for the Mid-West. “What is the point having a senior cabinet minister with a portfolio that may not necessarily impact on us in the Mid-West. “I think there is an awful lot more to be said to have someone sitting at the cabinet table holding a portfolio that can …

CLARE Deputy Cathal Crowe has emphasised the importance of the new Programme for Government delivering on regional development in the wake of stinging criticism of the lack of a senior cabinet minister from the West of Ireland. Deputy Crowe admitted he would have loved to have seen a senior minister from the Mid-West appointed to the cabinet. In an interview with the Clare Champion, he acknowledged quite a number of people had contacted him to express their concern about the lack of a senior minister from the region. However, the former Meelick Councillor pointed out he also respected it is the prerogative of the three party leaders to put forward names of deputies to become members of the cabinet. He was optimistic that the perceived geographical imbalance would be addressed by the appointment of junior ministers from the region. “It is always a good thing to have a minister in a county of from a region but we have seen …

ANDREW Murphy, Managing Director of Shannon Airport, is to leaving to take up a position elsewhere. Mr Murphy joined Shannon Group in March 2014 as Chief Commercial Officer and took up the role of Managing Director of Shannon Airport in February 2017. His decision comes hot on the heels of Niall O’Callaghan announcing he would be stepping down as Managing Director of Shannon Heritage, the tourism arm of Shannon Group. Commenting on his decision, Mary Considine, CEO, Shannon Group said: “Andrew has played an instrumental role at Shannon Group since the early days of its establishment and we are very appreciative of his dedication and hard work throughout his career with us. I would like to wish him every success and happiness in his new career.” Owen Ryan

SHANNON Airport is to resume passenger services next week, while it has sought a range of supports, as it faces tough new realities. In a submission made by Shannon Group to the State’s Aviation Recovery Taskforce, it has sought “significant and effective funding” to help restore important routes. Shannon has also sought a two-year waiver from commercial rates, for the wage subsidy scheme for aviation/tourism to continue until at least March 2021 and a regionally targeted marketing support scheme to challenge Dublin’s dominance. In addition, Shannon has sought changes to national aviation policy, including a request that the Government designate it Ireland’s dedicated location for commercial transit operations. It has also made a request that consideration be given to providing support to a link between Shannon and a major European hub. While Shannon is to reopen with a number of Ryanair services next week, Aer Lingus have already temporarily laid off all of their workers at the airport and some …