The security worker said he is concerned by the treatment of airport staff by some passengers last weekend.
A Dublin Airport worker has said that security staff in the terminal buildings faced “considerable aggression” from some passengers amid chaotic scenes last weekend.
The DAA (Dublin Airport Authority) confirmed on Monday that over 1,000 people missed flights on Sunday due to large queues and organisational chaos at the airport.
An Airport Search Unit (ASU) officer at Dublin Airport security has since spoken to RTÉ News about concerns over the treatment security workers received from some passengers on Sunday.
Wishing to remain anonymous, the ASU officer said they felt very sorry for and sympathised with passengers for the difficulties they faced on the day.
However, they added that airport security staff were subject to “considerable aggression” from some members of the public while performing their duties.
In response to the claims, Industrial Organiser with the Aviation Sector of SIPTU Jerry Brennan told RTÉ News that the trade union has constantly engaged with the DAA specifically regarding staff being treated aggressively when trying to do their jobs.
He also said additional airport police and Garda presence have previously been put in place to address the issue.
This is as the DAA told RTÉ News that it is “committed to safeguarding all those who travel through and work at Dublin Airport”.
As for why the queues were so long at the weekend, the ASU officer said a payroll problem at the airport may be a factor.
He said that workers have not been receiving overtime payments in their pay slips, meaning less security staff are volunteering to work overtime.
In response to this, the DAA told RTÉ News that its provider, Kronos, was affected by a cyberattack last December, causing the DAA’s payroll system to be unavailable for 14 weeks between December and March of this year.
The airport authority stated that it “acknowledges the concerns with payroll that SIPTU has raised on behalf of its members, and this matter is a top priority for both the DAA Board of Directors and Executive Team”.
It added that it was fully committed to ensuring all of its people are paid correctly “first-time and every time”.
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