Job fears as Aer Lingus plans to cut costs

Aer Lingus has reportedly told its workers that it is planning major job cuts in order to help the airline compete with Ryanair.

Reports this morning say the company's chief executive, Dermot Mannion, also told staff representatives during a meeting last night that significant cost cuts would be introduced.

SIPTU says redundancies were not specifically mentioned during the talks, but workers fear that a significant number of jobs will be shed.

Spokesperson Teresa Hannick said this morning that the news had come as a surprise to staff, who thought they had succeeded in their campaign to fight outsourcing and secure the future of permanent Aer Lingus jobs.

She said unions had received written commitments from the chairman and chief executive just last month that jobs would be protected after privatisation.