16/11/2007

Talks Underway In Aer Lingus Dispute

Aer Lingus management and union officials are engaged in talks with the National Implementation Body in a bid to avert strike action next week.

According to reports, the situation is very difficult between the two sides.

On Thursday, SIPTU confirmed that it had applied to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions for an all-out strike by all unionised workers at Aer Lingus.

The move after it emerged on Wednesday that the airline had written to staff warning them that they will be suspended if they do not give a written undertaking that they will not participate in planned strike action next week.

SIPTU served strike notice on Aer Lingus on Tuesday, over what it claims is the management's decision to unilaterally downgrade the working conditions of employees. The dispute focuses on new contracts and cost-cutting plans.

The planned strikes involve rolling four-hour work stoppages at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports next Tuesday and Friday.

RTE has reported that Ryanair said Aer Lingus had approached it about possibly hiring aircraft if the strike goes ahead. A Ryanair spokesperson told RTE that the airline would be prepared to make planes available.

Noel Dempsey, Minister for Transport, has said that the government would not intervene in the dispute.

(KMcA)


Related Irish News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

13 March 2024
Translink Workers Reject Pay Offer
Translink NI workers have rejected a pay offer from the public transport company. Unite, GMB and SIPTU confirmed that their members has "decisively voted to reject as inadequate" a pay offer made by Translink management. Workers were offered a 5% pay increase and a non-consolidated one-off payment of £1,500 for the 2023-2024 financial year.
05 November 2013
Concerns Raised Over Threatened Aer Lingus Strike
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport and Tourism, Timmy Dooley TD, has voiced his concern at the news that 91% of IMPACT cabin crew members at Aer Lingus voted in favour of industrial action.
07 November 2008
SIPTU Result On Aer Lingus Strike Ballot Due
The results of SIPTU's ballot on industrial action in a row over job cuts at Aer Lingus are due later today. Voluntary severance and early retirement schemes have been offered to Aer Lingus employees as the airline attempts to cut almost 1,300 jobs through out-sourcing.
19 October 2007
Ryanair Hits Out As Aer Lingus Takes Flight
With Aer Lingus proceeding with its plan to close the Shannon-Heathrow route and open a new Belfast hub instead, its biggest rival (and ironically, its biggest shareholder), Ryanair is now set to provide three additional daily flights to London to ensure Shannon Airport's capacity and traffic does not fall as a result of this Aer Lingus closure.
02 June 2009
Ryanair Flies Low
The budget airline Ryanair has revealed financial returns showing a major nosedive in operating profits. Ryanair plunged into the red by €169.2 million (£145.9m) in the year to March after being hit with a 59% hike in its fuel bill.