Multinational catering conglomerate SSP has succeeded in forcing all ten bar workers, and SIPTU members, out of their jobs in Dublin airport. Some had been working at the airport bar for decades.

SSP, which describes itself as “the leading dedicated operator of food and beverage brands in travel locations worldwide” operates in 30 countries including Australia, Singapore, Austria and the United States. It does not recognise trade unions, forcing down wages wherever it operates.

Its race-to-the-bottom approach won the catering contract at the airport in February in a process overseen by the Dublin Airport Authority. Upon winning the tender however it ignored the transfer of undertaking obligations and set about forcing workers to accept wage cuts of 37%, to €9.40 per hour, by saying their skills needs would change.

Six bar staff was selected for redundancy and others were put on a four week ‘trial’. When one worker challenged the process by which he was being ‘rated’ in the trail process he was suspended.

Despite workers’ arguments in favour of a strike ballot SIPTU engaged with SSP on redundancy terms.

Rather than stand for the attack on their conditions, all ten have taken the redundancy in recent weeks and have been replaced with non-unionised workers.