Aer Lingus management and representatives of its pilots are to hold high-level direct talks next week in a bid to resolve the row over the airline's plan to establish a new base in Belfast. Martin Wall, Industry Correspondent, reports.
The airline's chief executive, Dermot Mannion, and Impact general secretary Peter McLoone are expected to participate in the talks, which may take place on Wednesday.
Talks between Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots' Association branch of the trade union Impact at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), which had been under way for several days, were adjourned last night.
It is understood that the LRC told the parties that it was still available. However, there was no date set for it to become involved in the dispute again.
Informed sources had indicated during the day that not a great deal of progress had been made on key aspects of the dispute.
The central issue in the row is whether there should be a role for the pilots' association in negotiating the terms and conditions to apply for staff recruited to Belfast.
At the start of the LRC talks last week both parties appeared to have different views as to whether this issue would even be open for discussion.
Aer Lingus management and union representatives declined to comment last night. However informed sources said the fact that the talks were continuing was a positive sign.
A brief statement issued by the LRC said: "Talks at the Labour Relations Commission have adjourned this evening. At the suggestion of the commission the parties will meet at a high level next week to review the current position."
The talks averted a threatened 48-hour strike by pilots last week over plans by Aer Lingus to recruit staff in Belfast on what the union says are less favourable terms than those applying in the Republic.