Airline staff must wait to hear details of job cuts

AER LINGUS staff will not discover today as expected how many jobs the airline wants to outsource as part of a root-and-branch cost-saving drive.

The company had been expected to tell SIPTU it wants to replace up to 1,500 of its members, which includes baggage handlers, catering and check-in staff, with cheaper outsourced labour before the end of 2009. The union represents 1,900 ground staff in Cork, Dublin and Shannon.

Aer Lingus is trying to recoup €100 million in costs after posting an operating loss of €22.3m for the first half of the year, down from an operating profit of €2.6m a year earlier.