Aer Lingus pilots 'optimistic' strike can be averted
21/08/2007 - 18:38:00Aer Lingus pilots are optimistic that a solution can be found in a row with the airline’s management over job conditions at a new hub in Belfast, they said today.
Talks at the Labour Relations Commission’s offices between Impact union representatives and management adjourned until next Monday.
Further talks are scheduled to continue on Thursday and Friday in a bid to resolve the deadlock.
Pilots’ union, Ialpa had threatened to halt all Aer Lingus flights, causing travel chaos to 40,000 holiday passengers.
Impact assistant general secretary Michael Landers, who was joined by six senior pilots at the talks, refused to comment on what was discussed or the conduct of the negotiations.
He said: “Both sides have agreed not to comment on the detail of the talks. Impact is optimistic that a resolution can be reached but we cannot put a timescale on that. A resolution will be reached when it is reached.”
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion attended the first session of talks yesterday evening and was understood to be available today if needed.
A meeting of 60 Fine Gael TDs, Senators and local councillors called for a reversal of the Aer Lingus decision to end its Shannon to Heathrow flights and urged the Government to hold a Cabinet meeting in the region.
The politicians called on the Government to support the request for an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of Aer Lingus shareholders.
It also urged the Taoiseach to use the State’s 25% stake in the airline to ensure that the decision on the Heathrow slots is overturned.
The Shannon Action Group, which represents Aer Lingus workers at the airport, also met this afternoon to demand that the company’s decision be reversed.
“If the Cabinet met here in Shannon next week, they could hear directly from those affected by the decision by Aer Lingus to remove the Shannon-Heathrow slots,” said Co Clare-based Fine Gael TD Joe Carey.
“It would show a genuine commitment to address those concerns, something that has been lacking up to this point. The longer this crisis is allowed to drag on without resolution, the more damage is done, not only to Aer Lingus, but the region as a whole.
“You have to ask yourself, if a similar issue arose at Dublin Airport, would the Cabinet be so complacent?”
Meanwhile, Aer Lingus said it would be assessing the financial cost to the company of the threatened strike.
It said its fleet of aircraft had a load factor in the “low 70s” this morning compared with average of 75-85%.
“Yesterday was our busiest time in some time – 98% of all of our flights were full,” said commercial director Enda Corneille.
“A strike is not welcome at any time. It’s good that it’s not happening. The cost is something we will be evaluating over the next number of days.”
He added: “Customers should have full confidence in Aer Lingus in making bookings. We’ve been selling very heavily in the run-up to the strike for the next few months.”
Ialpa and Aer Lingus management last night agreed to go to the industrial relations trouble-shooter, the Labour Relations Commission (LRC), to resolve the bitter dispute over pay and conditions of pilots at the new Belfast base.
Last night, Aer Lingus rival Ryanair took its stake in the former State airline to more than 29.4%.
The Government is due to hold its first Cabinet meeting since the summer break on August 29.
Fine Gael TD Pat Breen said today: “The Government has a 25% shareholding in Aer Lingus and has an obligation to the region, whether it likes it or not.”
Opposition leader Enda Kenny is due to visit the Mid-West region as soon as he returns from a family holiday at the weekend.
Mr Corneille said passengers who cancelled bookings before the threatened strike may still be able to be fly with the airline today and tomorrow.
“If customers present themselves today and give themselves plenty of time, we will be able to re-accommodate them.”
Ryanair is now the largest shareholder in Aer Lingus, ahead of the Government, which has a 25% stake and the employee share ownership trust (Esot), which owns 12.6%.
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