Dublin Airport Authority triples overtime pay

Pressure on staff has increased since a European security agency significantly increased baggage screening requirements after the airport failed a security check in recent weeks.

The DAA is struggling to cope with rapidly increasing passenger demand at the airport and has so far been unable to hire and train enough lower-paid screeners to replace the large number of security guards who have benefited from a generous voluntary severance package during the pandemic.

Now the airport’s interim general manager of security operations has written to search unit staff, asking them to choose one of two overtime incentive options for the month of April, which will significantly increase the cost of the operation.

Option A’s triple-time model provides that baggage handlers are paid three times their standard hourly rate for hours in excess of their full-time equivalent hours. Long-term employees in the upper wage bracket earn 70 euros per hour. Newer employees at €14.14 per hour are paid €42 per hour for overtime.

A second, less lucrative option is flat-rate overtime pay. Employees who work an additional 10 to 19 hours in April will receive a lump sum of 200 euros with a staggered increase. Anyone who works more than 50 hours of overtime receives 1,500 euros.

Both options discourage absences, with even an employee’s absence during the month meaning all additional payment to them would be cancelled.

The move to bolster safety operations with even more overtime comes after a report that Dublin Airport failed a European safety audit conducted by the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA). His agents have been in Ireland for the past few weeks to review the role of the Irish Civil Aviation Authority as the national regulator for passenger safety.

Agents passed seven undetected prohibited items through airport security, prompting the airport to increase the number of random bags searched by 25 percent for a period of time.

According to sources, this has contributed significantly to the security delays at the airport in recent weeks.

Asked for comment, Kevin Cullinane, communications director for the DAA Group, said that the company’s “overarching strategic objective is to ensure that current and future airport customers receive quality services that meet the highest international safety standards”.

“We do not comment on safety matters, safety audits or speculation about changes to safety procedures for obvious reasons, but DAA is fully committed to protecting civil aviation and the safety and security of all individuals traveling through and working at Dublin Airport.”

Cullinane said aviation is one of the most regulated industries in the world.

“Dublin Airport is subject to regular and independent monitoring of our compliance with international security requirements. DAA is continually committed to ensuring the appropriate security standards are always in place,” he said.