Talks continue between airline and pilots’ unions

THE latest round of talks between Aer Lingus management and pilots begins at the Labour Relations Commission this morning.

Both sides have had five days to re-examine what concessions, if any, they are willing to give over the decision by the company to base staff at the Belfast hub on terms and condition based on northern rates.

The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association and IMPACT trade union are insisting those conditions are inferior and that the new staff must be given the same entitlements as those south of the border.

The airlines says it is fully within its rights to give staff local rates and it adds the pilots’ starting salary will be paid on a par with the wages for their Dublin-based counterparts.

The airline has said it will not even discuss terms and conditions of Belfast staff in the Labour Relations Commission.

It claims it is only sitting down with the pilots to discuss their concerns on the effect such a base outside the Republic might have on existing terms and conditions for those working within the Republic.

However, as one member of the union movement pointed out: “What else do you think we will be talking about?”

Entitlements in the Republic are earmarked to change anyway under the company’s Programme for Continuous Improvement, though that process is being strongly opposed by a number of unions.

Meanwhile, despite the senior executive of IMPACT voicing concern over the way IALPA handled strike notice over the weekend, Michael Landers, assistant general secretary of the union, who has been heading up talks on behalf of IMPACT said he was doing so with the blessing of his national executive.

He said he himself had signed the joint document serving notice on the company of the action and when he did so, it was on behalf of the union nationally.

The strike, which was due to take place last Tuesday and Wednesday was later averted. However, while Michael Landers last night repeated he was optimistic about the LRC hearing, the unions have said if these talks are not successful, the threat of disruptive action will re-surface without delay.