SIPTU to outline cutback alternatives

SIPTU has until Monday to convince Aer Lingus that its members can contribute their share of €50 million in cutbacks without the airline outsourcing or making redundant 1,300 of the ground crew it represents.

Otherwise Aer Lingus will continue with the purge and the union will begin strike action, grounding thousands of passengers in the run-up to Christmas.

The Government’s mediation body, the National Implementation Body, which was briefed on the situation on Wednesday, yesterday asked both sides to meet with the Labour Relations Commission once again. It had noted the union believed it could propose alternative measures to achieve the necessary cost savings, but added it was mindful the airline needed to achieve a competitive standard in order to ensure viability.