Aer Lingus redundancy talks break up
A second meeting between union officials and management at Aer Lingus ended today without a solution to the row over restructuring plans.
Both parties will resume talks tomorrow morning over the three-year plan which includes a mass redundancy package for the 1,325 planned job cuts.
SIPTU’s national industrial secretary Mick Halpenny said: “Following this afternoon’s discussions, management asked for further time to reflect on the issues before us and we have agreed.”
Members of SIPTU called off the one-hour general meeting, which would have resulted in flight delays at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports last weekend, after chief executive Willie Walsh agreed to meet with them.
Some of the issues the unions were raising included looking for the removal of the September 14 deadline for acceptance of the redundancy deal which will see 1,325 jobs cut.
Management and union bosses failed to reach agreement during their first meeting last Friday.
Topics SIPTU expressed concern over included management cutting of business class seats and slashing the interline cargo service.
The redundancy package offered for the 1,300-plus job cuts was based on nine weeks’ basic pay for each year a worker has spent at the company, up to a limit of 15-years.
Union chiefs said there are concerns that around 40% of staff would be left short as they have been with the company longer than the limit.
Members of SIPTU are also looking for a guarantee that the remaining jobs would be safe.
