Aer Lingus and SIPTU agree to series of discussions

Aer Lingus and SIPTU have agreed to a series of regional meetings over the coming week to discuss changes to work practices and pay for airline staff.

It follows talks between SIPTU officials and management from the airline at Aer Lingus Headquarters in Dublin Airport this afternoon.

According to a SIPTU's Michael Halpenny, today's meeting with Aer Lingus management consisted of talks about talks.

Both sides arranged a series of meetings to take place in Dublin, Cork and Shannon over the coming week between SIPTU officials, shop stewards, craft unions and Aer Lingus representatives.

Aer Lingus will then meet with SIPTU on Wednesday of next week top measure progress.

Today was the first time the two sides have engaged since last week's labour court recommendation that cost cuts are necessary at the airline, but that staff must be compensated for these measures.

SIPTU says today's meeting was businesslike.