Aer Lingus strike action may be averted

There has been a breakthrough in the LRC talks aimed at averting industrial action by cabin crew at Aer Lingus.

Representatives of Cabin Crew at Aer Lingus are meeting this afternoon to discuss the latest proposals aimed at preventing industrial action.

LRC brokered talks between the union and Aer Lingus management are understood to have made a breakthrough, after Aer Lingus said it will keep the cabin crew base at Shannon Airport open and will not outsource staff for transatlantic flights.

There is also progress on staff numbers for these flights, with five cabin crew aboard each flight for an interim period, although this is under review.

IMPACT's Bernard Harbor said, however, that there are further issues which need to be resolved.

"There's a range of issues that we've been trying to deal with with the company – including rostering, and the adherence of the company to various agreements," he said.

"This particular LRC proposal specifically deals with the Shannon transatlantic issue, and I think that's because people on all sides felt there was an urgency around this - given the new service is to come into force first thing next year."

"But there are other issues that remain."

IMPACT's cabin crew committee will now decide whether to recommend acceptance.