The solution to the

Aer Lingus pension dispute “is a simple one”, the company has to put more money into the fund, and the workers have to expect less benefits, Minister for Transport Leo Varadkar said yesterday.

Speaking as Siptu balloted aviation workers on possible strike action, Mr Varadkar said the solution he outlined “would have to be arrived at some point”, and he called on the workers to “avoid a strike that is unnecessary in the meantime”.

Some 4,000 staff at Aer Lingus, Shannon and Dublin airports are members of the defined benefit, Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS), which has a deficit of about €800 million. Most of those affected are members of Siptu.