Airline cabin crew ballot on work-to-rule

AER LINGUS cabin crew are being balloted for industrial action over what a trade union claims is a malfunctioning rostering system and the failure by management to make temporary staff permanent.

If the ballot goes in favour of action, the crews will start with a work-to-rule that is not expected to cause too much disruption to travelling passengers, though it would make it harder for the airline to provide a full service without overtime.

However, if the company does not address the issues, the crews may upgrade their protest to a more aggressive form of industrial action.

Nevertheless Christina Carney of IMPACT, which represents the staff, hopes the issues could be resolved.

“IMPACT’s Aer Lingus cabin crew branch is balloting for industrial action following a widespread consultation with members of the branch,” she said. “The company has reneged on its commitment to offer permanent positions to temporary cabin crew. There are also ongoing problems with the implementation of the automated roster system, which has caused major disruption to the working lives of cabin crew.”

Meanwhile, aircraft maintenance firm Lufthansa Technik Automotives Ireland has agreed to attend the Labour Court to discuss the future of its 465 staff.

The German company has threatened to withhold a $40m (e30m) investment in its Rathcoole facility in Dublin unless workers agree to new employment practices, including lesser overtime and shift premiums.

It has told staff that without that investment the workers will be put on short-time working and, eventually, the facility will shut down.

“The proposals do not involve job losses or pay cuts. If the investment were to go ahead, it would guarantee the future of the plant for the next 15 years,” it said.

Staff sources, however, say they believe the company fully intends to wind them down to shorter working weeks so they want to hold onto their shift premiums.

On Wednesday staff voted against the proposals by a relatively narrow margin.

Yesterday morning Irish management held an emergency meeting. Afterwards it issued a statement in which it said: “LTAI is respectful of all agreed labour relations procedures, and is accepting the invitation from the Labour Court.”