Pilots to decide on Aer Lingus talks invite
Executive members of the Irish pilots’ union will meet today to consider an invitation from Aer Lingus to enter talks.
The move could lead to a breakthrough in the strike action, due to be stage by almost 500 pilots from midnight tonight.
Around 40,000 passengers will be affected by the 48 hour walk out.
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion last night wrote to the Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) calling on the union to withdraw its strike notice and to immediately engage with the company.
It followed a letter from industrial relations troubleshooter Phil Flynn who said that had he known of the airline’s plans to open a hub in Belfast, he would probably have recommended that pilot concerns about the establishment of the base be dealt with through joint discussions.
IALPA President Evan Cullen said Mr Flynn’s statement vindicates its position that the Belfast base does not come under the terms of the Flynn Report, and undermines Aer Lingus’ claims that it does.
Mr Mannion said the airline accepted the recommendation to engage in discussions.
The pilots proposed to strike over the airline’s plans to hire pilots for the new Belfast base on less favourable terms and conditions than its pilots flying out of the Republic.
They claim union members from the north who wanted to relocate back home would have to pay the price by signing away their pensions.
The IALPA has maintained that this week’s strike would be called off if Aer Lingus was open to talks to negotiate on the terms and conditions for the Belfast jobs.
If the strike goes ahead, just 10,000 Aer Lingus customers will be carried on routes to Heathrow, Manchester and Amsterdam on hired planes from other airlines - including two from its arch rival and main shareholder Ryanair.
