Aer Lingus results key to talks on cost-cutting

AHEAD of today’s announcement by AerLingus of its 2006 financial results, SIPTU has said that if, as it expects, a major profit is revealed, the company will have to work very hard to justify the cost-cutting measures it is trying to force on its workers.

Talks on those measures begin tomorrow with the union still insisting that the company will have to take a step back from the stance it is taking on conditions such as the working week, rosters, time in lieu and most importantly overall pay for its members.

The measures, which the union sees as unwarranted and draconian have been described as essential by the company for its long-term sustainability.

A number of meetings are expected to take place over the next two months before the union will put together a “definitive article” on the outcome of the consultations and ballot its members on whether to accept or reject the company’s final position.

If it is decided the company has not relented sufficiently on its position on the cost-cutting measures, strike action could be on the cards once more.

“In the meantime our agreements and our terms and conditions of employment remain the same.

“As long as that maintains itself we will be in a proper industrial relations environment and no risk of industrial action will arise,” said SIPTU branch organiser Christy McQuillan.

“It is a question of working out new change and change that people can manage to agree to,” he added.

Aer Lingus said it would not comment on the negotiations with the union until after today’s announcement of the airline’s financial performance for 2006.