Talks aimed at ending the dispute between cabin crew and management at Aer Lingus began at 3 p.m today. Although no timetable has been put on the talks, they are expected to last into next week.
Management at Aer Lingus and IMPACT, which represents 1,400 of the airline's 1,600 cabin crew, sat down to talks this afternoon in the dispute over pay following the intervention of the National Implementation Body yesterday.
The NIB, set up in December to help with industrial disputes, asked both sides to return to the Labour Court. IBEC and the Irish Congress of Trade Unions are also helping in the process.
Sources have indicated that no outcome is expected from the talks until next week. It is thought the Labour Court may issue a recommendation early in the week to avert IMPACT's next one-strike action planned for February 16th.
A media blackout has been placed on the talks to encourage a successful resolution.
British Midland (BMI) and Aer Lingus flights have returned to normal after the disruption to yesterday's services caused by industrial action.
Pickets by BMI ground staff are continuing at Dublin Airport but the airline has flown in staff from its other operations in Britain who are now doing the work of the striking handlers.
The ICTU says a decision on the ATGWU request to put all-out pickets on the airport will not be made for at least two weeks. The union's members are striking over the transfer of their jobs to a contractor.
The result of the ballot by around 300 SIPTU members of Aer Lingus' cabin crew, who have also threatened industrial action, is expected tomorrow.