The prospect of industrial action at Aer Lingus loomed large again last night after IMPACT's Aer Lingus cabin crew committee yesterday advised its members to reject a Labour Court recommendation on pay and conditions.
In a unanimous decision, the committee said the Labour Court's pay conditions were inadequate and the recommendation would impose unacceptable working conditions. The union has a mandate for strike action if cabin crew vote to reject the recommendation. It will be balloting its 1,400 cabin crew members from tomorrow as well as holding meetings in Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Heathrow. The results of the ballot should be known by next Tuesday.
A one-day strike by cabin crew grounded Aer Lingus planes last October, causing disruption to some 20,000 passengers. It was estimated to have cost the airline around £2 million. The union planned to have a second one-day strike last December but this action was suspended to allow Labour Court intervention.
IMPACT assistant general secretary Ms Christina Carney said that "At the moment, cabin crew have to wait 24 years to reach the top of their pay scale. Under these proposals they would have to wait 35 years to earn the princely sum of £25,000. "And the company, which is among the most profitable airlines in Europe, wants to impose new working practices that staff rejected when Aer Lingus was facing bankruptcy."
The union said it was also concerned the Labour Court's recommendation would introduce two-tier working practices, with new staff experiencing worse conditions than existing cabin crew, including the loss of at least 14 days' annual leave.