Pilots, crew won’t join strike — yet

PILOTS and cabin crew at Aer Lingus are not going to join their SIPTU-represented colleagues in industrial action — yet.

SIPTU announced on Monday that it was to engage in industrial action, up to and including strike action, because of cost-cutting measures introduced by the company without prior consultation with staff or unions.

Yesterday, Amicus craft workers at the national airline also voted to take industrial action. Amicus, which represents 175 engineers, said it would serve notice to the company tomorrow.

Union representative, Brian Gormley, said they would probably withdraw their services for periods if there was no resolution during the course of the 14 days.

However, more than 1,700 pilots and cabin crew are represented by IMPACT trade union, and yesterday it said it was going to continue with negotiations with the airline.

Both Aer Lingus and IMPACT are meeting with the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), and the union said it would like to seek a resolution there.

“As in the past, when proposals are put forward our first port of call is trying to negotiate with the company,” a spokesman said.

However, he added members did start a ballot at the same time as SIPTU and the results of that will be known next week. If negotiations failed the union could be in a position to proceed with industrial action.

SIPTU has said it will not enter talks at the LRC until the company suspends its cost-cutting measures, which have already been introduced for new staff.

However, the fact that the pilots and majority of cabin crew are not embarking on industrial action at this stage means there should be less disruption caused to passengers in the coming weeks.

SIPTU has given the airline 14 days’ notice of industrial action.

An Aer Lingus spokesman said it is disappointed about the proposed action: “The simple reality is that Aer Lingus has identified a series of costs within its operational activity that are out of line with competitors and that, if sustained, will contribute to a growth in cost per passenger flown, a measure that all parties in Aer Lingus have formally agreed to maintain at or below current levels, one that must be kept under control if the long-term competitive future of the airline is to be maintained.”