Efforts begin to avert IMPACT pilots' strike

Behind-the-scenes efforts are underway today in an effort to avert a one-strike by Aer Lingus pilots planned for February 11th.

The airline and the IMPACT trade union are believed to be considering the appointment of an independent mediator to chair talks between the two sides. The pilots voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action over what they see as unfair treatment from the management.

Pilots are the only members of Aer Lingus staff to have had compulsory redundancy orders served on them as part of the airline’s post-September 11th survival plan.

IMPACT’s Michael Landers said his union is willing to enter talks with Aer Lingus if the company agrees to lift the compulsory redundancy orders.

"Any useful initiative at all that’s capable of resolving this problem is something that we would very much welcome," he said.

"We’re ready to talk with the company and we’ll talk with them at any time and at any stage about this issue. To allow the notice of industrial action to be withdrawn, what needs to happen is for the company to withdraw their notices of compulsory redundancy."