CABIN CREW at Aer Lingus will not proceed with industrial action today after the Labour Relations Commission issued a finding aimed at settling a dispute over new rosters.

Impact, which represents the majority of cabin crew at the airline, said it would be unreasonable to press ahead with the work-to-rule while it considers a 39-page document issued last night by the commission’s chief executive Kieran Mulvey.

The proposed action centred on new working arrangements Impact said were imposed unilaterally by the airline as part of a €97 million cost-saving plan. It said the new roster would see cabin crew working longer hours and losing breaks and rest periods.

Aer Lingus said the changes to traditional rules governing the issues, introduced last month, were necessary to allow for all cabin crew to be rostered in such a way that they work an agreed total of 850 flight-hours annually.

Mr Mulvey’s finding recommends a revision of existing agreements – rather than their abandonment – in order to meet the agreed working hours.

“This should not be a new negotiation process,” he said.

“The opportunity should be taken to work together to produce a ‘new book’ of whatever colour to provide mutual clarity of the working arrangements for cabin crew…”

Mr Mulvey said cabin crew had made a major commitment in terms of pay and conditions in order to improve efficiency and return the airline to profitability.

Impact said time would be required for cabin crew staff to read, digest and discuss the document.