Strike threat averted at Aer Lingus

STRIKE action, which would have grounded Aer Lingus at the height of the busy summer months, has been averted after the company and SIPTU shopstewards reached agreement on cost-saving measures.

The measures, which will save the company €10m per year through new staff rostering and mobility initiatives, had been rejected by the union’s members in two separate ballots.

In the last of those ballots the majority of staff had actually voted in favour of acceptance. However, because three whole sections, Dublin loading, Shannon ground operations and Dublin station clerical, had voted en masse against, the union’s rules meant it had to report an overall rejection.