IMPACT IS BALLOTING Aer Lingus cabin crew on industrial action in a long-running dispute over new rostering arrangements.

However, the union has stressed it follows legal advice and no strike action is planned over the busy Christmas season.

Talks between staff and management over a trial of a new ‘five days on, three days on’ rostering pattern for cabin crews have been on-going since the last bout of industrial action back in May, when as many as 200 flights were cancelled.

Cabin crew were emailed earlier this week advising them of a new postal ballot being issued, as a vote of this kind can lose its validity over time.

A spokesperson for Impact said today that “there has been no fresh outbreak of hostility”, and there are no plans for a strike before Christmas.

“Assuming that the ballot is passed and should further industrial action be necessary, the timing of such action will be a tactical matter for the Cabin Crew Committee following meetings with you,” the email read.

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