Progress report on Aer Lingus talks due today

THE National Implementation Body will today receive a progress report on the knife-edge talks between Aer Lingus and its trade unions over the €20 million in cost-saving measures which the airline wants to introduce before the end of the year.

The body will meet with Kevin Foley and Niall McGinn of the Labour Court and consultancy firm Grant Thornton this afternoon. Grant Thornton were instrumental in resolving the seemingly intractable dispute at An Post in 2005.

Under the direction of the body the Labour Court and Grant Thornton have been liaising with both sides over the past week to see what their positions are on the airline’s Programme for Continuous Improvement 2007 (PCI-07).