Aer Lingus cabin crew have suspended their strike threat following what IMPACT calls "significant progress" in direct talks with the company. The union's cabin crew committee met yesterday to hear a progress report on negotiations and decided to call off the strike planned for tomorrow.
SIPTU, which is the other union representing cabin crew, also met yesterday and agreed to defer strike action.
Both decisions were welcomed by Aer Lingus as very positive. Its group director of corporate affairs, Mr Dan Loughrey, said the company hoped to bring the long-running pay dispute "to finality" as result.
Aer Lingus, IMPACT and SIPTU are to meet the Labour Court today to discuss the details of a tripartite agreement negotiated last Friday. The court is expected to issue a final report on the dispute, which will be put to ballot. If accepted by the 1,650 cabin crew, the basic salary scale would be increased by up to 20 per cent, rising from £13,000 to £22,500 over 15 years. Rates for cabin-crew managers would rise to £29,000.