The Labour Court has called Aer Lingus and its unions in for a final round of talks this morning in an effort to avert Friday's strike.
IMPACT's cabin crew committee is due to meet this afternoon to make a final decision on whether to go ahead with the stoppage and two further stoppages next week.
The court issued the invitations late last night. It is expected to make a finding by early afternoon. The company will have to make a decision by then on whether to cancel flights because of the threatened action.
IMPACT, which now represents the vast majority of cabin crew, will be the first party to attend talks. They will be followed by SIPTU and company representatives. It is unlikely that any of the parties will significantly modify their positions. The Labour Court may decide no further progress can be made. In that event it seems almost certain the strike will go ahead. Last week's stoppage grounded over 160 flights and cost the airline an estimated £2 million.
IMPACT and SIPTU have both held strike ballots but SIPTU has still to serve strike notice. IMPACT has not indicated if it will engage in a continuous 48-hour stoppage next week or strike on two separate days.
SIPTU's membership is too small to have a serious effect on the level of service. The union may even decide to let its members be laid off on the days of the IMPACT action rather than take formal industrial action itself.
Aer Lingus has so far not countered the stoppages with any threats of large scale layoffs. Meanwhile, unions at the airport are to meet representatives of the Amalgamated Transport Workers Union over the British Midland dispute.
It is seeking solidarity in its efforts to secure better terms for the transfer of British Midland ground staff to Gatwick. Talks between the ATGWU and British Midland broke down at the Labour Relations Commission yesterday and both sides have been referred to the Labour Court. The company is understood to have increased its lump sum "transfer fee" of £1,019 per year of service to staff.
However, union representatives are awaiting the outcome of a ballot on the offer by British Midland workers in Britain, who are members of the GMB.