Talks between Aer Lingus management and representatives of its pilots aimed at resolving the row over the airline's plans for a new base in Belfast adjourned after two hours yesterday and are to resume tomorrow.
The trade union Impact said the question of industrial action by pilots at Aer Lingus would only become an issue again if the talks broke down. This had not happened.
Impact assistant general secretary Michael Landers said it was "positive" that the negotiations were continuing. "I think it is progress that we are coming back to talk again. A couple of weeks ago a strike was in the offing, but we are now in discussions."
It is understood that Impact will consult with its pilot members before the talks resume tomorrow.
Aer Lingus yesterday deferred plans to publish details of the pay and conditions which it wishes to apply for pilots and cabin crew at its new Belfast base.
Mr Landers declined to comment on whether Impact or the Irish Airline Pilots Association had sought the airline to defer the publication of the Belfast rates given that talks were under way.
The central issue in the dispute is over whether the union should have a role in negotiating the pay and conditions to apply for pilots employed at the Belfast base.
Aer Lingus has said the aim of the talks is only to deal with concerns the pilots and their union Impact may have on the implications of the new Belfast operation on their conditions and bargaining capacity in the Republic.
Mr Landers did not comment on whether the gap between the parties had narrowed yesterday.
Aer Lingus did not comment on the meeting.
Yesterday was the first occasion that senior Aer Lingus management had met the union for face-to-face talks on the Belfast issue since the dispute broke out last month. During talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) last week both parties had been in separate rooms.
Mr Landers said the LRC had felt the best way for the process to progress was for face-to-face talks to take place.
The Aer Lingus delegation yesterday was headed by chief executive Dermot Mannion.
The Impact team was headed by deputy general secretary Shay Cody.
It is understood that Aer Lingus is anxious to press ahead with the recruitment process for Belfast, which is due to come into operation in December.
The airline has said it has received 1,100 applications for 100 positions on offer in Belfast.
The talks at the LRC averted plans by nearly 500 pilots at Aer Lingus to embark on a 48-hour strike over the plans by the airline to employ staff in Belfast on what the union considered to be inferior conditions to those applying in the Republic.
