Mediation body gives no date for Aer Lingus decision

THE Government has given no indication when its dispute mediation body will adjudicate on the battle between Aer Lingus and its staff which threatens to ground thousands of passengers this Christmas.

The National Implementation Body (NIB) yesterday met with airline management and union representatives over Aer Lingus plans to outsource or make redundant 1,500 staff in a process which will begin on December 1.

SIPTU has served the company with notice of strike action and it can withdraw all 1,700 of its ground crew from service on any day after November 24. If it does, the airline will grind to a halt and up to 20,000 passengers per day will be forced to find alternate ways to reach their destinations.