Union talks with Aer Lingus expected to spark fresh ballot

AER LINGUS management and the IMPACT trade union are expected to negotiate ‘clarifications’ to a €97 million cost-cutting plan at the former national airline which will allow cabin crew to be re-balloted on acceptance of the deal.

Last week, Aer Lingus chief executive Christoph Mueller said the company would be terminating the employment of all 1,200 cabin crew.

Most would be rehired on inferior terms and conditions, but about 230 would be made compulsorily redundant and receive only statutory entitlements of two weeks per year of service.

This followed the cabin crews’ rejection of the management cost-cutting proposals in a March 5 ballot, with 36% in favour and 64% against from a 100% turnout.

All other staff represented by other unions voted for the plan which had been negotiated between union and management.

Yesterday management and IMPACT representatives met separately with Labour Relations Commission director of conciliation Kevin Foley to discuss the situation.

Aer Lingus director of human resources Michael Grealy said the airline plans to proceed with restructuring agreements already accepted by other staff grades.

He said: “If IMPACT wish to conform to that then we are in a position to work with them.”

Otherwise, Mr Grealy said that the airline plans to begin steps to implement Mr Mueller’s controversial cabin crew proposals within the 22 days remaining in a pre-set worker consultation period.

IMPACT had recommended the approval of the proposed cost-saving measures contained in the plan, which involved over 600 voluntary redundancies, pay-cuts and work practice changes.

In a statement the union said that it had called for support for the proposals “on the basis that it would minimise job losses and help sustain the future of the airline”.

Meanwhile, SIPTU has decided to withdraw from the Advisory Council of the Commission for Taxi Regulation and to boycott further meetings of the body.

The decision follows a meeting of the SIPTU Taxi Drivers Branch on Thursday where members complained that they have derived no benefit from participation on the Advisory Council over the past six years.

SIPTU branch official Jerry Brennan said the decision to boycott the council is based on evidence that “at no time have our members or taxi drivers generally derived any benefit from participation on this body”.

A separate driver representative organisation, the Irish Taxi Council, has announced plans to withdraw services and cause major disruption next Monday. It said its series of protests would continue indefinitely until a cap is put on the number of taxi licences being issued.