Chaos fears as Aer Lingus action looms

AER LINGUS passengers are once more facing the threat of travel disruption after the company threatened to sack cabin crew members who refuse to work their full rosters next week.

The 1,300 workers, members of the IMPACT trade union, are due to begin a work-to-rule on Wednesday after claiming the company had abandoned aspects of a Labour Relations Commission arbitration on new rosters.

In a letter addressed to Sean Murphy, the Aer Lingus director of staff relations, union official Christina Carney said IMPACT was disgusted by the airline’s attempts to undermine and denigrate the contribution of cabin crew to the well-being of the company.

The letter stated: “Threats by you to cabin crew to withdraw from your obligations as an employer concerning sick leave agreements and travel concessions entitlement will only further widen the gap between you as an employer and your crew.”

Earlier this year, cabin crew and management fell out over management’s €97 million Greenfield cost saving plan. That document required cabin crew to increase working hours to 850 a year. The Labour Relations Commission intervened in the dispute and, after considerable negotiation, convinced both sides to sign a binding arbitration at the end of August.

However, in the intervening weeks talks on the implementation of that arbitration have faltered.

While the union said the company has abandoned elements of the deal leading to its threat of industrial action, management said the union has effectively sought to re-negotiate issues by introducing pre-conditions.

Yesterday, Mr Murphy wrote to both the union and to individual members.

In his letter to Christina Carney of IMPACT he said that while the union had said it was “available to discuss and find solutions to the dispute”, the company saw no basis for discussions if the union was refusing to accept the outcome of binding arbitration.

In the letter to staff members, he warned their employment incorporates collective agreements, now including the Greenfield agreement and the binding arbitration finding.

“It is important to note that this is binding on an individual basis,” it said.

“We expect you to comply fully with all rosters published. Failure to do so will put you in breach of your contract of employment. Aer Lingus will not accept staff refusing to carry out some or all of their contractual duties. Such a refusal could result in immediate removal from payroll and culminate in dismissal.”

In response last night, IMPACT said it had no alternative but to serve strike notice as the airline’s management had insisted on ignoring its terms.