FLS chairman Mr Steffan Harpoth has made significant concessions to TEAM Aer Lingus workers in a last-minute effort to persuade them to accept a transfer of employment to the Danish conglomerate. However, with responses due from the 1,550-strong workforce by tomorrow, it remains to be seen if these are enough.
The company has offered to lift the current 16-month pay freeze at TEAM within 28 days of acquiring it, even though this will add £2 million to total annual pay. However, in return, it wants industrial "peace" and a bargaining council to negotiate any changes in wages and conditions.
Mr Harpoth also says that payment of the 2 per cent local bargaining clause of Partnership 2000 will not be made until TEAM's financial performance improves.
These and other concessions are contained in a letter he sent late yesterday to the co-ordinator of the TEAM group of unions, Mr Eamon Devoy. The letter was in response to concerns raised with Mr Harpoth at a two-hour meeting with the unions on Tuesday.
On the issue of redundancies, Mr Harpoth said that none was contemplated. "In the unlikely event a downsizing is considered, we promise to have adequate discussions with the involved parties." He accepted that compulsory redundancies were "the least desirable way of reorganising". Any voluntary severance package would be in line with previous TEAM redundancies. FLS would also honour Aer Lingus commitments on early retirement and gave assurances on the pension fund.
