Talks to avert next Friday's strike by more than 3,000 Aer Lingus ground staff begin at the Labour Relations Commission this afternoon.
Given the gap between the two sides, resolution of the dispute by the midnight deadline on Thursday will be difficult
If no breakthrough occurs SIPTU is planning a further one-day strike on Thursday, April 12th, the start of the Easter bank holiday.
Although clerical staff and general operatives have Labour Court recommendations from last November and December respectively, the referral of the new dispute over "equity" with cabin crew to the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) means it is seen as a new claim.
This may create more room for manoeuvre in negotiations. On the other hand, there is little time to utilise the procedures available from the LRC and the Labour Court.
The company is advising customers that "it is far to early at this stage to announce arrangements on Friday". There has been no talk so far, as occurred before the cabin crew stoppage last October, that aircraft might be leased to provide a service.
Last Friday Aer Lingus suffered losses of about £2 million and 20,000 passengers were inconvenienced by the stoppage, which was the fourth since industrial unrest over pay broke out six months ago.
The only good news for the State airline this weekend is that SIPTU cabin crew have voted by 56 per cent to accept the pay deal already accepted by two-thirds of IMPACT cabin crew.
SIPTU's national industrial secretary, Mr Noel Dowling, said yesterday: "We have some very difficult negotiations ahead of us and we don't expect a quick solution. The view we take is that there is a question of equity here. The settlement with cabin crew, coupled with statements from the chief executive of Aer Lingus, Mr Michael Foley - acknowledging there had been mistakes in dealing with cabin crew in the past - has caused problems for other employees.
"They are wondering why they are less valued by the company."
SIPTU ground staff believe the deal negotiated by Aer Lingus with the cabin crew widened differentials with other grades by £1,230 a year. They are resentful that cabin crew have secured a 15-year pay scale and have had contentious new work practices "put on ice". Ground staff have an 18-year pay scale and have had no deferments of new work practices.
However, the company says SIPTU chose to negotiate separate pay deals for each grade.