Aer Lingus issues jobs ultimatum to unions

AER LINGUS management has warned staff unions that, unless they agree to a €97 million cost-saving package involving 676 job losses by the end of the month, it will be forced to shrink the airline and make hundreds more redundant.

At the start of October Aer Lingus announced it was to embark on jobs cuts, significant pay cuts — up to 40%, according to pilot unions — and changes in pension arrangements, as well as ending certain routes. It said it had to take the decisive action to protect the long-term viability of the company in what was an extremely challenging environment for all airlines.

At the announcement of the €97m plan, the company said it would negotiate with the unions until yesterday on ways of saving the €97m but added that, if no agreement was reached by then, it would be forced to press ahead with the cuts on its own terms.