Union anger as Aer Lingus gives deadline on €20m cuts plan

SIPTU has reacted angrily to Aer Lingus management’s threat to implement proposed €20 million cost-cutting measures on February 24, unless both sides can reach agreement by then.

Aer Lingus management informed the union yesterday that the “urgency to agree, implement and realise savings is more and more pressing with every day” and if an agreement couldn’t be found in the next two weeks, management would have no option but to press ahead with its own plans.

The airline again reiterated that it expects this year to be very challenging for business, with a weakening economic environment and continued high fuel costs.