Union chiefs to press on with Aer Lingus talks

Trade union bosses today agreed to continue crunch talks aimed at resolving a row over Aer Lingus’ controversial cost-cutting plan.

Siptu had threatened strike action amid claims the airline’s €20m savings scheme would cut the individual salaries of many staff by up to 4,000 euro a year.

But today it voiced its support to continue negotiations on an alternative plan on more flexible cost-cutting methods which was brokered by the National Implementation Body (NIB) last month.

Aer Lingus welcomed the announcement.

“Shop stewards considered the proposals made by the NIB on December 21st and are happy it is achieving our objective of identifying alternative savings to the proposed cuts in pay being sought by the company,” said Siptu’s Branch Organiser Teresa Hannick.

“We are committed to the process, which has already identified some €10m in savings in the areas where SIPTU has members.”

The industrial relations trouble shooter intervened in the dispute in November just days before ground staff were due to take part in rolling four-hour stoppages at Dublin, Cork and Shannon Airports in protest at the savings scheme.

It threatened to ground the beleaguered airline and cause travel chaos to thousands of passengers.

An Aer Lingus spokeswoman said the company was fully committed to continuing to engage positively with the union to bring this process to a close in line with the deadlines recommended by the NIB.

“Aer Lingus is now calling on the other unions in the airline to engage in a similarly positive manner so that the targeted staff cost efficiencies and productivity gains may be realised for the benefit of all stakeholders,” she added.

Meanwhile Siptu also revealed it had referred the pay freeze imposed by the airline on workers last October to the Labour Relations Commission and Labour Court and branded it a clear breach of the national agreement Towards 2016.

“An early hearing of the case is expected,” added Ms Hannick. “This does not interfere with the NIB process.”