Aer Lingus and public service face strike threat

AER LINGUS and the public service are facing escalating industrial relations problems as union members vote to up the ante in their campaigns against cutbacks.

Yesterday, cabin crew members of IMPACT voted decisively to reject a package of cost-cutting measures.

The measures, including more than 600 voluntary redundancies and pay cuts of 10%, were agreed by management and union leaders in January in a bid to make €97 million savings.

In the face of threats from Aer Lingus management last week that rejection of the plan would result in 1,100 compulsory redundancies, cabin crew voted against accepting the deal by 64% to 34%, with a 100% turnout.

A union spokesman said the management threat angered many staff and had an “extremely negative” effect on the ballot outcome.

In contrast, IALPA pilots at Aer Lingus backed the plan by 81% to 19%.

Two other unions, SIPTU and UNITE, representing mainly ground staff, are still balloting with sources saying there is a strong likelihood of the deal being rejected.

Airline management said they will not comment on the votes until all ballots are completed on Monday.

The ballots’ outcome is likely to see the threat of strike action return if management continues to pursue what unions describe as an “unnecessary get tough” approach to negotiations.

A serious escalation of industrial action is also threatened in the public service from March 15, with the Civil Public and Services Union serving strike notice from that date last night.

The union, representing mainly lower paid public servants, stated that selective strike action may be undertaken from Monday week.

A four-week overtime ban will also be implemented.

In a further indication of the worsening industrial relations climate, IMPACT has accused the HSE of trying to bully health service workers following the distribution of a letter warning staff they face disciplinary procedures if they do not desist from industrial action.

Union spokesman Kevin Callinan said the communication was part of a HSE management strategy to directly contact workers and address them in a “patronising” tone which “tends to be hectoring” and in recent times “intimidatory.”

The ICTU public service committee will meet on Monday with several unions joining the CPSU in calling for an escalation of the campaign involving a withdrawal of labour for short periods on a rolling basis across the entire public service.