Aer Lingus strike must be grounded fast

As an election constituent and as a customer of Aer Lingus, I would like to raise the matter of the national airline’s threatened strike of cabin crew on May 30.

The row centres on rosters, which have been a bone of contention for some time at the airline, and the subject of the last industrial action taken by cabin crew. Surely, roster arrangements can be put in place that meet the needs of both the airline and its staff.

I understand that the pilots operate five days on, followed by three days off. This type of patterned roster is worked by cabin crews in other airlines, including Aer Lingus regional crews. Ryanair have something similar.

The European Aviation Safety Agency, in its EU-OPs Flight Time Limitation rules, makes no distinction between pilots and cabin crews in terms of schedules, so why does Aer Lingus? What is good for the ganders should also be afforded to the geese.

Apparently, Aer Lingus have refused, also, to implement a Labour Court recommendation, which has contributed to this mess, so how does this Government plan to find a resolution, if the Labour Court is not respected?

It is not just the unions and the company who will be affected, but also the travelling public and the hospitality and tourism sectors.

Transport Minister Leo Varadkar says that there are other airlines, but, in the summer, they have their own passengers to carry and will not have the spare capacity, so that means fewer visitors over the course of the bank holiday and beyond.

The State’s industrial relations institutions, backed by the Government, need to step in to investigate, and politicians should be calling for that to happen, particularly in the week when new legislation on collective bargaining was introduced and an Garda Síochána won the right to strike — something which should be a last resort.

Heads need to be banged together, and soon.

John Patrick Murphy

Samson’s Court

Balgriffin

Co Dublin