Ireland

Pilots claim Aer Lingus plans 'lockout'

The union representing 480 pilots at Aer Lingus has claimed the airline is planning a six-to-eight week "lockout" of pilots and…

Elaine Edwards
Fri Oct 12 2007 - 01:00

The union representing 480 pilots at Aer Lingus has claimed the airline is planning a six-to-eight week "lockout" of pilots and possibly other staff from next week as the dispute over a new hub in Belfast continues.

Irish Airline Pilots' Union (Ialpa) president Evan Cullen said today that a letter issued to his members by the airline's chief executive, Dermot Mannion, indicated Aer Lingus was planning "nothing short" of a lockout.

We understand that Aer Lingus are planning a six-to-eight week lock-out of the pilots and perhaps all the other staff, that's the plan
Evan Cullen, president of Ialpa

Pilots were told in the letter that if they fail to indicate their intention to co-operate with plans for the new Belfast base by next Monday afternoon, they will be suspended from the payroll with effect from 3am on Tuesday.

"We understand that Aer Lingus are planning a six-to-eight week lock-out of the pilots and perhaps all the other staff, that's the plan," Mr Cullen said.
Speaking on RTÉ's Morning Ireland,he denied pilots were engaged in strike action and said they were available for "unconditional" talks with the airline or at the Labour Relations Commission at any time between now and Tuesday.

The LRC is expected to invite Aer Lingus management and the pilots to talks over the weekend in a bid to avert mass disruption to the airline's flights and passengers next week.

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Mr Cullen said pilots had not refused to co-operate with the Belfast base. Aer Lingus plans to recruit pilots for Belfast on local terms and conditions andsays that existing pay agreements applying in the Republic do not apply in another jurisdiction.

"We have conceded a lower cost-base for Belfast . What has to be agreed is how different that cost-base is," Mr Cullen said.

He rejected a claim by Mr Mannion last night that the pilots were exercising a "veto" over the Belfast base. "Belfast can start on Monday morning. What can't happen on Monday morning is that the pilots who go to Belfast lose their pensions, that's the difference."

Aer Lingus yesterday said it intended to operate a full service next week, but the trade union Impact, of which Ialpa is a branch, said that mass suspensions would effectively shut the airline down from Tuesday.

Up to 15,000 passengers each day could be affected if the fleet is grounded.

Two more pilots were suspended yesterday for refusing to co-operate with the recruitment of staff. Seven pilots are now off the payroll.

"We are available for talks, unconditional talks, either directly with Mr Mannion, or through the LRC. The pilots are being consulted at this very moment on our response to this letter which we received in the last couple of days," Mr Cullen said.