Aer Lingus vows to press ahead with cost-cutting plan
Aer Lingus management again warned unions it will push ahead with €97m savings and 676 job cuts as negotiations with unions are due to end today.
The airline board will meet tomorrow to plan how and when to make the swingeing cuts unless agreement is secured.
Christophe Mueller, Aer Lingus chief executive, warned talks have so far failed to set out how the savings will be achieved.
“We acknowledge that savings have been offered however it is critical that savings must be delivered in a full and meaningful way from 2010 and not deferred beyond the timeframe of the plan,” he said.
“This has not been the case so far.”
The airline warned earlier this month the number of redundancies could rise if talks with unions at the Labour Relations Commission fail to bring an agreement.
The former state carrier wants to save almost €100m by 2011 through a range of measures, including cutting 676 jobs from its workforce of 3,900.
Staff earning more than €35,000 a year also face pay cuts in the proposed Transformation Plan.
The airline has entered talks with Siptu, the State’s largest union, Impact, which represents cabin crews, its pilot branch Ialpa, and Unite, which represents skilled technical workers.
The discussions were set to finish today when the Government’s top industrial relations trouble-shooters will review progress.
Mr Mueller said: “I would like to thank and acknowledge the commitment and professionalism of the staff representatives throughout these talks.
“I would also like to recognise the continued high levels of customer service of our front line staff during this difficult period.”
The airline boss added: “We remain committed to the negotiation process today to ensure that agreement can be achieved to urgently deliver the required savings in full.”
