Siptu set to meet over Aer Lingus strike plan

Monday’s strike by Aer Lingus ground staff will go ahead unless the airline management reverses its demand for work practice efficiencies in return for propping up the ailing staff pension scheme.

Siptu shop stewards, who represent the staff, will meet this afternoon to discuss clarifications provided to them about a proposed new conciliation process.

The union had asked the Irish Congress of Trade Unions and the employers’ group Ibec, which together formulated that process, to clarify whether they would remove the need for “productivity measures” from the proposed talks.

Aer Lingus management has consistently said it will not put some €100m into the ailing aviation pension scheme unless staff agree to productivity measures valued at up to €50m.

Ibec and Ictu wrote to Siptu yesterday telling the union: “Our proposal to the parties is concerned with process only and is aimed at assisting the parties to find an acceptable solution, avoiding the industrial dispute threatened for Nov 19 and encouraging them to utilise the dispute machinery of the state.

“It is a matter for the parties to put forward their own issues through their participation in the process as recommended and an acceptable outcome, voluntarily arrived at, rests with the parties. We did not impose any pre-conditions on what issues should or should not be tabled by any party in finding a solution.”

However, as far as Siptu is concerned, the decision on whether it takes part in the talks process is now in the airline management’s court.

It is likely to emerge from this afternoon’s meeting to say that Aer Lingus must signal it will not be seeking the work practice efficiencies as part of the process to address the €750m hole in the Irish airlines superannuation scheme (IASS).

The airline has been unequivocal that such a U-turn will not occur.

It has not diverted from a statement issued earlier this week in which it said: “Aer Lingus is seeking employment cost stability over the coming years and any new arrangements put in place by the company to improve the pension prospects of affected members of IASS will therefore be linked to the strength of the commitment to stabilise employment costs.”

Monday’s two-hour stoppage, while causing disruption to the travel plans of thousands of passengers, is unlikely to see them stranded. The airline has signalled it will re-arrange flights if necessary to ensure people can still travel.