Aer Lingus flight disruption continues

PASSENGERS will continue to experience disruption to Aer Lingus flights this weekend as crunch talks continue between management and staff over rostering issues.

Talks opened at the Labour Relations Commission yesterday after 12 days of disruption, which saw several thousand passengers affected by the cancellations.

Up to 12 flights have been cancelled today and a similar number are expected to be cancelled tomorrow, with some passengers being offered later or earlier flights.

The breakthrough in negotiations came after the joint intervention on Thursday by the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (ICTU) and employers’ body IBEC.

After IBEC industrial relations director Brendan McGinty and ICTU general secretary David Begg met representatives from Aer Lingus and trade union IMPACT yesterday, both sides agreed to a two-stage process.

Both management and staff agree that an early resolution is needed.

They have agreed to Labour Relations Commission talks to refine contentious issues and then arbitrator Kieran Mulvey will clarify matters for both sides. Mr Mulvey’s decision will be final, it has been agreed, and is expected to bring the dispute to an end.

Cabin crew argue that while they have signed up to additional hours, the rostering arrangements in place are too burdensome and are not family-friendly.

A total of 215 cabin crew members at the airline were taken off the payroll for refusing to adhere to new rosters rolled out across the company.