IMPACT held the first meeting of its new branch for Aer Lingus cabin crew at Dublin Airport last night and has decided to seek formal recognition from the company.
Over 1,350 of the company's 1,550 cabin crew have defected from SIPTU to IMPACT in what has become one of the largest and bitterest inter-union "poaching rows" of recent years.
SIPTU is expected to raise the issue when the Irish Congress of Trade Unions general purposes committee meets in two weeks.
In the unlikely event of the company refusing recognition, IMPACT may sanction industrial action, but this is not expected before the end of September.
A spokesman for IMPACT said last night that the union was satisfied it had met all the criteria for the transfer of members from SIPTU.
"We acted absolutely within the rules of ICTU on that and are confident our actions can withstand any scrutiny".
He discounted reports that cabin crew would engage in "green flu" or some other form of unofficial action if Aer Lingus refused to recognise IMPACT out of deference to SIPTU, which continues to represent the majority of other employees. IMPACT would now seek a meeting with Aer Lingus as soon as possible to discuss issues of concern to its members, the spokesman said.
Informed airport sources said the company was anxious to avoid being dragged into a potentially damaging inter-union row as it prepared for a public floatation.