Labour Court holds hearing into Aer Lingus contracts row

Unions and management at Aer Lingus are due before the Labour Court this morning in connection with a row over the airline's moves to introduce new contracts for its workers.

The hearing has been arranged in an attempt to avert a 24-hour strike next Monday in protest at cutbacks in the terms and conditions of staff, which the company is planning to impose this week.

Unions have also arranged an overtime ban and work-to-rule action as part of a campaign of opposition to the move.

SIPTU says the planned changes to contracts breach promises made before the privatisation of Aer Lingus that the terms and conditions of workers would be protected.