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LAST UPDATE | 1 Jul 2024
AER LINGUS AND the pilots’ union engaged in ongoing industrial action are continuing late into the night as part of efforts hoped to avert further travel disruption amid the busy summer holiday period.
The Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) were in the middle of discussions around the possibility of escalating their industrial action when the invite was issued.
The meeting began at around 2.30pm this afternoon and are still on going.
Earlier, reporters and photographers outside the venue saw IALPA members and negotiators return to the court after a short break with refreshments – insinuating the talks were to continue into the night.
Both sides had blamed the other for prolonging the stand-off that has led to almost 400 flights being cancelled and disrupted tens of thousands of passengers’ travel plans.
On previous hearings, the Labour Court dismissed the parties as a resolution could not be made.
However, after the ramping up of industrial action at the weekend – in the form of an eight-hour strike on Saturday – the court invited both parties back to mediate the debate. This is the longest mediation talks have continued out of all sessions so far.
On his way into talks, the airline’s chief corporate affairs officer Donal Moriarty said the meetings would be challenging.
“This dispute is causing significant financial and reputational damage to Aer Lingus and it’s impacting negatively on everyone that’s connected with the company, including our passengers,” he said.
“So we’ve no doubt that the engagement today in the Labour Court will be challenging, but we’re willing to engage in that meaningfully.”
Moriarty added: “We’ve always been willing to engage in meaningful discussion and negotiation and we will continue that approach in the Labour Court today.”
An indefinite work-to-rule began on Wednesday, with pilots now refusing to work overtime, accept changes to set rosters, or take on out-of-hours management requests.
All-out strike action also took place on Saturday between 5am and 1pm.
Across the Atlantic, pilots in Boston, Orlando and Seattle formed pickets in support of Aer Lingus pilots. Those who participated are members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
Close to 400 flights have been cancelled so far, with tens of thousands of passengers impacted.
On Friday, Aer Lingus announced it was cancelling a further 122 flights and said it had taken this action to “protect as many services as possible”.
Details of the services impacted are set out on the ‘Travel Advisory’ page of the Aer Lingus website, and communication is sent to affected customers.
Impacted customers will be given the option to change their flights for free or can claim a refund or voucher.
Aer Lingus said it “fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers given the uncertainty caused by IALPA’s industrial action” and that it is “giving impacted customers as many options as possible”.
Talks have been ongoing for close to two years between Aer Lingus and IALPA, with IALPA previously rejecting a Labour Court recommendation that would have increased pay by 9.25%.
IALPA is seeking a pay increase of 23.8% over three years, which it says is “clearly reasonable and affordable for a profitable company such as Aer Lingus.”
The union noted that in 2023, Aer Lingus had a full year operating profit of €225 million.
This was a 400% increase on 2022, when a full year operating profit of €45 million was recorded.
However, Aer Lingus has said it is willing to offer pay increases of 12.5% or above if “improvements in productivity and flexibility” are discussed.
Both IALPA and Aer Lingus attended separate meetings with the Labour Court last Tuesday, but the Court said it would not be intervening at this time and would review the matter in July.
Speaking on Saturday, IALPA president Mark Tighe said he was not aware whether they would be in the same room or not, as previous meetings had seen management and pilots hold discussions separately.
Aer Lingus meanwhile welcomed the Labour Court invitation and expressed “hope” that today’s engagement in the court “can result in an outcome that will bring normality to the travelling public”.
Speaking before last week’s unsuccessful Labour Court meeting where talks eventually broke down, Taoiseach Simon Harris urged both to “engage” rather than “put people through agony and chaos”.
He said there would be “very little sympathy and support for anybody who puts the travelling public through utter chaos” if they are not “engaging intensively”.
-With additional reporting from Press Association and Muiris O’Cearbhaill
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I returned home 2 months a go after 2 years in Brazil having never been on the dole before. Now 8 weeks later I’m at my wits end, I have started two jobs since I got home only to end up loosing the as I stood up to my employers for the lack of breaks. I recently worked for a push bike courier and worked 9 hours straight,when asked about lunch I was told it was too busy. There are lazy people out there but employers seem to be able to do as they wish at times.
Unfortunately the idea of “you have a job, you should be grateful ” over the last few years has given alot of employers the attitude that employees should and will take any conditions and crap that’s thrun at them and because so many people are sinking into poverty and are barely keeping their heads above water even though they are working they feel they have no other option but to put up and shut up. It’s a vicious circle.
Have you at any point considered turning to crime or drug abuse as a result of these problems?
I was unemployed for a number of months before I emigrated and not once was this a consideration of mine.
I’m not really sure why we’re constantly being told that “lack of support” of various different types is the cause of drug use and crime. I had little support, aside from Social Welfare, while I was unemployed and managed to get my ass out of the country and a new job without starting on heroin and mugging old ladies.
Where is the support for the retired Irish mother with a husband who hasn’t worked since 2009 and is getting by on state pensions and missing the support (emotional and financial) of her adult children who have all had to emigrate, or are unemployed themselves? Nope, not a word about that – it’s *always* inner city Dublin.
Also, I’m not entirely sure how quantifiable answers to questions such as “how is the recession, and Government policy, affecting your life?” actually are and how from this they can conclude the “greatest impact of the crisis and austerity measures has been felt by people who are on the lowest incomes and most dependent on state supports and services,” Surely these are subjective?
Similarly, communities like Fatima Mansions are much easier to provide services to than, say, dispersed rural communities. The fact that the have “community workers” to speak up (be they paid or voluntary) is something. Who speaks on behalf of the many thousands of people outside inner city Dublin who aren’t mentioned in the article?
There is much food for thought in your well considered comment. Kudos.
Time for the Irish people to stand up for themselves.
Pete
Dont be silly the Irish are lap dogs. Never protest, never stand up, just take it time and time again
Sad but very true :(
It’s all the fluoride In the water,makes them dolicile.Its banned everywhere in Europe.
Bullshit
The politicians are not going to stand up for anyone. They are too busy slurping at the trough with their newly appointed consultants. Why don’t these community groups demand free electricity and water for low income families and individuals? Are they so mired in corruption that they are unable to propose some simple solutions? And before the shareholders of Ireland Inc. start gnashing their teeth, and asking who will pay for it. The answer is, the Utility corporations can easily afford to take a small dip in profits.
You shut your mouth, put on some clothes, get down them stairs and get out & get a bleedin job for yourself (Dessie Curly)
Can’t find the full report online, does anyone have a link?
have your say