Aer Lingus unions find €10m savings

TALKS between the National Implementation Body and Aer Lingus management and unions have identified alternative ways of making up to €10 million in savings for the company.

Last month, unions had threatened strike action over management’s insistence on introducing the Programme for Continuous Improvement 2007 (PCI-07) — cost-saving plan, which would affect workers’ pay scales, holiday entitlements and overtime payments.

Talks between both sides, facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission, have been underway since the stoppage was averted. The NIB said yesterday the LRC discussions had demonstrated that there is “reasonable justification” for the labour cost savings. It also said the withholding of due pay increases ran counter to the Towards 2016 pay agreement and that they wanted the outstanding issues to be overcome by partnership and the development of appropriate structures.