Unions warn of strike at Aer Lingus

AER Lingus could face strike action at the height of the summer holiday rush if it tries to push through its controversial Programme for Continuous Improvement 2007 (PCI07) by August 1.

A letter has been sent to senior members of both Impact and Siptu saying the company has nominated that date for the implementation of its cost-cutting drive that will see workers’ pay cut and conditions altered. The changes would affect working hours, holidays and overtime for the staff.

According to Aer Lingus the average pay at the airline is €72,500 and there are baggage handlers earning as much as €110,000 through overtime and shift allowances. It will not allow that to continue.

Siptu, which has 1,800 members working in the airline in all sections apart from the pilots, said previously that any attempt to implement those changes in conditions without its agreement could not happen .

Earlier this year, the union threatened to ground the airline with strike action if it tried to push through PCI07. That action was only called off at the last minute after crisis talks in the Labour Court.

The court said it was satisfied that the current economic circumstances at Aer Lingus justified the management seeking to obtain further cost savings at the airline but it recommended compensation be paid to its staff.

Both sides agreed to enter talks on all the issues related to the changes.

However, yesterday the union was told the company had set August 1 for the full implementation of PCI07 even though talks have not yet been completed.

Michael Halpenny said the union would block any attempt at implementation if agreement is not reached by that date.