Aer Lingus is reportedly threatening to permanently withhold pay increases worth millions of euro to cabin crew unless they sign up to the company's cost-cutting plan.
Reports this morning say the airline is vowing not to pay wage increases due under social partnership unless 1,200 cabin crew attached to the IMPACT trade union agree to cost cuts by the end of this month.
Aer Lingus has already frozen the pay increases as part of its efforts to get the controversial cutbacks implemented.
Reports this morning say the airline has agreed to pay the money to SIPTU ground staff following progress in talks with that union on ways to reduce expenditure.
However, Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion has reportedly written to IMPACT saying that, unless its members agree to cost cuts, the airline will permanently withhold their pay increases and consider this to be their contribution to the cost reduction plan.