Aer Arran pilots set to approve strike action

Aer Arran pilots will begin discussing what kind of industrial action they plan to take against the company as they prepare to serve strike notice.

Around 100 pilots have completed a ballot on industrial action, with an overwhelming majority expected to have voted in favour.

The airline, which operates regional services at Aer Lingus, imposed a 10% pay cut on pilots in 2009 as well as a pay freeze.

The pilots, represented by the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA), are now calling for a reversal in the cuts and some form of restoration.

Aer Arran is now braced for widespread travel disruption as pilots' strike plans get under way.

A spokesman for their union IALPA said the question now is what type of industrial action will take place.

“After the votes are counted, a formal legal process has to happen,” he said.

“We are not yet clear on what form the industrial action will take and when it will happen. This has yet to be determined.”

IALPA served strike notice on Aer Arran last summer over a pay dispute dating back to the pay cut in 2009.

But the union withdrew its threat of industrial action after the company agreed to enter a pay review process.

“The company now seems to be wanting to kick this into touch into next year or the year after and members are not happy,” he said.

“This is about pay and the pay cuts they have already taken. They want to get some restoration.”

A special tribunal met for several days in June and July to deal with pay-related issues, but the union was left unsatisfied with the management’s terms.

It is understood Aer Arran is holding out on introducing a pay increase, with no plans for a review until late in 2014.