Strike threat as Aer Lingus pilots ballot over rostering

WITH the busy summer season approaching Aer Lingus is once again facing the threat of potentially disruptive strike action by its staff, this time by pilots angry over rostering arrangements.

The pilots, members of the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) claim they are stretched to the limit by low numbers and this is having an impact on their rosters.

Ballot papers are due back with IALPA by May 27 and it says that if the members vote in favour, it will activate action if Aer Lingus management:

* Breach or continue to breach any collective agreement.

* Continue to fail to produce and implement a “sustainable manpower plan to address issues including but not limited to pilot number retention.

* Fail to address pilot roster grievances on both the A330 and A320 aircraft fleets on or before June 7.

* Breach or continue to breach any pilot contract of employment.

* Initiate disciplinary action against any member adhering to IALPA directives.

A union spokesman said pilots identified problems with the rosters a year ago and had brought their concerns to the attention of management at that point.

They said their concerns had not been addressed since then and while the situation had been manageable during the quiet off-peak season, they were not prepared to let it continue over the busy summer months.

It is believed the problem is exacerbated by the departure of a number of Belfast-based pilots to other airlines meaning that they can not be called in to help overstretched Dublin-based pilots.

Last night, a spokesman for Aer Lingus management said they had been informed that the pilots were balloting.

“We are continuing to engage with them to resolve these issues. In fact we engaged with them as recently as today (Wednesday).

“We are in the process of recruiting pilots and are bringing in short term contract pilots as first officers which is within (management/union) agreements.”

For any airline particularly in recessionary times, the summer season is crucial for revenue generation and the spokesman stressed that the airline does not anticipate any disruption to services to passengers.

Last week, after reporting an operating loss of €57.3 million, Aer Lingus warned that its controversial €97m “Greenfield” cost cutting plan may not be enough and that it might have to seek further savings, though it made no indication that it would try to generate extra revenue through further staff rationalisation measures.