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Airport chaos looms as Aer Lingus pilots threaten strike action

Aer Lingus pilots have served notice of industrial action from next Tuesday (File photo)
Aer Lingus pilots have served notice of industrial action from next Tuesday (File photo)
Image: Leon Farrell/Photocall Ireland

AER LINGUS PILOTS have announced that they’re to begin industrial action next Tuesday 7 June, which could lead to a full cancellation of all of their flights.

A statement from the airline says that pilots won’t work on rostered free days or annual leave days, and that they will report for duty an hour late reports Reuters.

Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller says that the action by the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association and the IMPACT trade union may lead to a full cancellation of operations. He says that it will be impossible to maintain proper flight schedules and customers will suffer as a result reports RTE.

Industrial action by Aer Lingus cabin crew over the introduction of new rosters led to the cancellation of 22,000 bookings in January, and saw 215 staff taken off the payroll.

This action by pilots is also over rostering, and comes after 87 per cent of members of IALPA voted in favour of industrial action. The Irish Times reports that 30,000 people a day could potentially be affected.

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Comments (8 Comments)

  • Martin Sinnott 31/05/11 #
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    Is there no end to Aer Lingus ?

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  • Andy 31/05/11 #
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    75 years of strikes and high fares.

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  • Report this comment

    Aer Lingus can fly off into the history books at this stage.

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  • Jeanette Tighe 31/05/11 #
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    I will not be flying with Aerlingus anymore, the strike anxiety is not worth it.

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  • Siobhán Oliver 31/05/11 #
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    Don’t ever understand why people fly with aer lingus if Ryan air is available to relayively the same destination. They may ask you to pay for every little thing but at least their flights are still cheap and they treat their staff well enough so that strikes just don’t happen!!!

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  • Jeff 31/05/11 #
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    Give it to Ryanair…

    Reply
  • Gemma 31/05/11 #
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    as you can see below, Mr. Mueller has a “performance related bonus” which bears thinking about. 87% of pilots voted no, the pilots won’t work on rostered free days or annual leave days and why should they? And Siobhan, who told you Ryanair treat their staff well, that is a complete joke, they even have to pay for their own training! Did you not see the programme recently on how Ryanair treats its staff, not to mention that passengers are left miles away from their destination. By the time you pay the bus fare to get where you are going, it is more expensive, believe me I have tried it. See below for Barrington and Mueller’s salary scale, a fraction I am sure of what the pilots are on. Having a go at the wrong people again folks!
    http://www.rte.ie/news/2011/0329/aerlingus.html
    Aer Lingus Chief Executive Christoph Mueller was paid €1.32m in salary and benefits in 2010.
    Aer Lingus Chief Executive Christoph Mueller was paid €1.32m in salary and benefits in 2010, according to the airline’s annual report published today. It was Mr Mueller’s first full year at the airline and €483,000 of his pay was in the form of a performance-related bonus.
    Mr Mueller also stands to benefit from share options arising from a long term investment plan and his employment terms. These have been ascribed a value of almost €350,000. Aer Lingus Chairman Colm Barrington earned a directors’ fees of €126,000 in 2010, which was €20,000 less than his remuneration the previous year.

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