Aer Lingus unions seek pay rise

TRADE UNIONS at Aer Lingus will look for a pay rise for staff who stay with the airline after its redundancy programme is implemented.

SIPTU and Impact yesterday repeated calls for early talks with management on changes to work practices after one-third of the 4,300-strong workforce leaves the airline.

SIPTU national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said the union wanted talks to discuss all aspects of the company’s restructuring. These included the redundancy deal announced on Thursday, terms and work conditions for staff who remain, and redeployment of staff in functions that would be out sourced but who wished to stay with the airline.

But Mr Halpenny declined to give an indication of the pay rises the union would seek. Impact assistant general secretary Michael Landers said staff who chose not to take the redundancy offer would expect a “fairly sizeable” pay increase.

Mr Landers echoed the call for talks with management and said the growth plans would mean a heavier workload from a smaller workforce. The airline’s plan to implement the redundancy programme within weeks heightened the need for talks on new work practices which were “overdue at this stage,” said Mr Landers, Impact also wants the airline to clarify the position of the pilots the union represents.

Aer Lingus had plans earlier this year to shed approximately 80 of its 430 pilots, but has not invited pilots to apply for redundancy under the package currently on offer. Mr Landers called on management to confirm that it was no longer seeking to cut the number of pilots on its books.

SIPTU represents 2,000 Aer Lingus staff, while Impact has over 1,600 members at the airline. Neither union has recommended the redundancy deal to members. They have instead left it to staff to decide for themselves, based on individual circumstances.

Departing staff will receive at least €40,000 under the terms of the deal, which will cost the airline up to €95 million. Initial staff reactions are believed to have been positive.