Pilots start industrial action

The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) last night informed Aer Lingus it will begin a work-to-rule industrial action today because of “bizarre and inhumane” rostering arrangements.

Captain Evan Cullen of the IALPA said the issue of rostering had not been solved and Aer Lingus has refused to hand over the summer 2011 schedule which it was feared would force unsatisfactory working conditions.

The airline last night said it was “outrageous” that the IALPA has chosen to take industrial action at a time of such economic uncertainty.

Aer Lingus further said it had been engaged in “wide-ranging discussions” with the trade union in recent weeks in relation to a number of issues, primarily focused on rostering, which has been at the centre of dispute between the airline and its staff.

However, Capt Cullen countered Aer Lingus’s claim categorically stating discussions have not been ongoing. Capt Cullen said the airline had made itself unavailable in recent weeks and would not hand over the summer roster for 2011 as requested.

In its statement, Aer Lingus also said the IALPA had “chosen to threaten Aer Lingus customers” with industrial action.

Again Capt Cullen denied this saying it was most unlikely services would be disrupted in any way.

“What we have done is told pilots not to report for work on their day off. This is because of the malicious and bizarre rostering of schedules which we have been subject to,” Capt Cullen said.

Capt Cullen claimed that last summer one pilot was forced to work 15 days in a row.