Aer Lingus cabin crew have called off tomorrow's strike but have warned that further strike action could begin next Wednesday.
IMPACT's cabin-crew committee took seven hours yesterday to decide whether to call off tomorrow's action. It is now seeking further talks on the Labour Court proposals to settle the long-running pay dispute.
If talks take place they are more likely to be directly with the company than at the Labour Court. The court is thought to be concerned that any further concessions to cabin crew could reopen claims from general operatives and clerical grades.
Although unions and management were reluctant to discuss the latest Labour Court proposals, it is understood the court indicated it would recommend increases of between 17 per cent and 19 per cent for senior cabin-crew grades.
This would be on condition that IMPACT and SIPTU were prepared to end the dispute and discuss outstanding issues with the company through a joint review study group.
The pay rises are seen as an attempt to address IMPACT demands for extra pay for long service. The union has rejected long-service increments because it would take 35 years to reach the top of the basic scale.
However, the new Labour Court rates would give significant pay increases to all but 20 Aer Lingus cabin crew currently at the top of the scale.
Under the new Labour Court scales, rates for cabin-crew managers would increase from £18,410 to £19,000 at the bottom of the scale, and from £27,910 to £29,000 at the top. These figures are close to the original pay claim.
Aer Lingus welcomed the decision to defer strike action and the fact that services would not be disrupted this week. Director of group corporate affairs Mr Dan Loughrey said the company "wants to resolve these issues through dialogue".
SIPTU branch secretary Mr Tony Walsh said "serious possibilities have come out of the Labour Court discussions which we have relayed to our members. We remain available to discuss the issues as the need arises."
More than 150 sales staff at Aer Rianta shops in Dublin Airport have served strike notice for Saturday. Their union, Mandate, is seeking extra rates for working Sundays.