The prospect of industrial action at Aer Lingus continues to recede, with management and staff agreeing yesterday to cut costs at the airline.
Officers with the union representing many of the airline's ground staff, Siptu, yesterday agreed to keep working with Aer Lingus representatives to shave a further €10 million off the airline's budget.
They have already agreed on measures to save €10 million, mainly involving the introduction of a new rostering system and more flexible start times.
Union and management representatives were brought together in mid-November by the State's industrial relations troubleshooting agency, the National Implementation Body, days before rolling stoppages were due to begin.
Unions objected to airline measures which they said would cost workers up to €4,000 per year.
Siptu shop stewards voted yesterday to remain within the process established by the NIB.
"Shop stewards considered the proposals made by the NIB on December 21st, and are happy it is achieving our objective of identifying alternative savings to the proposed cuts in pay being sought by the company," said the union's Aer Lingus branch organiser Teresa Brannick.
"We are committed to the process," she said.
A spokeswoman for Aer Lingus said the airline noted the outcome of the Siptu shop stewards' meeting and welcomed "their leadership in this important process".
"The company is fully committed to continuing to engage positively with the union to bring this process to a close in line with the deadlines recommended by the NIB," she said.
"Aer Lingus is now calling on the other unions in the airline to engage in a similarly positive manner so that the targeted staff cost efficiencies and productivity gains may be realised for the benefit of all stakeholders."
Ms Brannick said the NIB-brokered negotiations proved there was a smarter way to solve problems at the airline.
"There has to be a better way of doing business than taking lumps out of each other," she said. "We're looking at developing a system that's a better way of doing business because change is constantly on the table in the airline industry."
So far the €10 million in savings have come from ground staff. Remaining savings at the airline will be sought from other workers, including pilots, cabin crew and craft workers.
The implementation body has recommended that the bulk of negotiations in relation to savings to be generated by these groups should be completed by the end of this month.