Aer Lingus and Ialpa to attend Labour Court on Monday to resolve pay row

Picture: Sam Boal/Collins Photos

Both sides in the Aer Lingus industrial dispute are set to attend the Labour Court on Monday in a bid to resolve the increasingly bitter row over pay.

It comes in the wake of the cancellation of a further 122 flights over the ongoing industrial action by pilots, amid fears that the increasingly bitter dispute could escalate.

The cancelled flights were scheduled to run from Wednesday 3 July to Sunday 7 July.

Both sides confirmed they will accept the invitation.

“Aer Lingus has welcomed the Labour Court’s invitation to both parties back into the Court on Monday and has confirmed that the company will be attending,” a spokesperson for the airline said.

The union Forsa, of which Irish Airline Pilots' Association (Ialpa) is a branch, also confirmed it would attend the meeting.

"The union takes the view that we are at a critical point in this dispute, and the outcome of any Labour Court process will be crucial," it said.

"Should it fail, we are looking at a situation much worse than it is at present and a greater likelihood of escalating industrial action."

Ialpa began an indefinite work-to-rule on Wednesday, with Saturday earmarked for a separate eight-hour work stoppage. The union is holding further talks today to discuss potentially escalating its industrial action over pay.

Through to Tuesday, Aer Lingus has already cancelled 270 flights affecting around 40,000 passengers.

The airline has confirmed the cancellation of a further 122 flights through to next Sunday, and said that impacted customers will be contacted with the option of changing their flights for free or claiming a refund or a voucher.

“Aer Lingus fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers given the uncertainty caused by IALPA’s industrial action and is giving impacted customers as many options as possible,” it said.

Pilots are seeking an increase of almost 24% in pay, which they say is in line with inflation since their last rise in 2019. They also say the company has made significant profits while management have gotten large increases.

Aer Lingus has said it is willing to offer pay increases of 12.25% or above if "improvements in productivity and flexibility" are discussed.

Both sides pointed the finger at the other following the breakdown of Thursday’s talks. Ialpa's Mark Tighe said their side moved from its inflationary figure of 23.88% but “the company has not moved”.

He also accused Aer Lingus of “escalation” and said the company had informed them they reserve the right to legally terminate bonus agreements if collective agreements aren’t renegotiated.

Aer Lingus’s chief corporate affairs officer Donal Moriarty, meanwhile, said he didn’t believe IALPA had engaged in any “meaningful movement or willingness” during the talks.

Mr Moriarty added said there is "no doubt" that if the industrial action is to continue, there will be more cancellations.