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Aer Lingus

Talks between Aer Lingus and pilots continue through the night

Negotiations have failed to find a resolution to the dispute over rosters. Pilots are threatening to begin industrial action tomorrow.

TALKS BETWEEN AER Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association have continued through the night in a bid to avoid industrial action due to start tomorrow.

Both sides returned to talks at the Labour Relations Commission yesterday evening after negotiations broke down in the early hours of Saturday morning. The dispute centres on rosters and pilots have said that they will show up to work their shifts an hour late beginning tomorrow, and that they will not work on annual leave days, if a resolution is not found.

Aer Lingus has extended the deadline for changing flights in a bid to accommodate the 30,000 passengers who could potentially be affected, and is also allowing cancellations free of charge. RTE reports that there are fears that the row could spread to affect Belfast and Gatwick airports.

The Irish Times reports that attempts by Aer Lingus to hire in aircraft to cover flights affected by tomorrow’s potential strike action have been largely unsuccessful. The busy summer period and the short notice given means that a refund or flight change is more likely to be the best offer for passengers if the industrial action goes ahead.

Read more: Aer Lingus strike “could save Ireland from the E.Coli outbreak” – HSE>