SIPTU still on board for Aer Lingus cost-cutting talks

SIPTU yesterday agreed to continue in discussions with Aer Lingus to play its part in achieving the €20 million in cost reduction being sought by the airline.

In a major boost for the airline’s plans, SIPTU — which represents 1,800 ground staff — agreed to discuss the roadmap for the savings hammered out under the guidance of the National Implementation Body.

Under that plan, SIPTU will agree to changes in work practices which will generate €10m of the €20m in savings being sought under the airline’s Programme for Continuous Improvement 2007.

“Shop stewards considered the proposals made by the NIB on December 21 and are happy it is achieving our objective of identifying alternative savings to the proposed cuts in pay being sought by the company,” SIPTU’s Aer Lingus branch organiser, Teresa Hannick, said.

“We are committed to the process, which has already identified some €10m in savings in the areas where SIPTU has members.”

The other €10m will be sought from the other grades of the airline, mainly cabin crew and pilots.

However, while January 31 has been set by the National Implementation Body as the date by which it wants the whole process substantively complete, it is by no means certain that all the details of the plan will be hammered out by that date.

Sources within Aer Lingus say the airline remains pragmatic, bracing itself for further disquiet among elements within its workforce when the full details of the proposals emerge.

That means the threat of disruption to passengers, a regular feature of 2007, can still not be ruled out in 2008.