Industrial dispute may ground Shannon flights

FLIGHTS from Shannon to Birmingham, Edinburgh and Manchester scheduled for next Tuesday and Wednesday may not get off the ground because of industrial action.

 

Aer Arann pilots, who service the routes under the Aer Lingus Regional banner, are set to strike. The dispute between the pilots and the employer centres on pay, with pilots looking for the end to a pay freeze and for pay cuts to be restored.

Aer Arann claims it is still working towards becoming profitable, something they say should happen next year and that pay can be reviewed then. Both the pilots’ union IMPACT and Aer Arann have offered a different take on an earlier agreement to review pay.

In a statement this week, IMPACT said there is overwhelming support for industrial action. “Aer Arann pilots are to take strike action from 00:01 hours on Tuesday, August 20 after they voted by a 91% margin in favour of industrial action. The strike will affect Aer Arann flights and regional flights operated on behalf of Aer Lingus.

“The dispute is over management’s refusal to end a pay freeze and restore pay cuts implemented when the airline was in financial trouble. IMPACT says there is no justification for a continuing pay freeze now that the company has returned to a sound commercial footing, which is the basis of a fleet replacement programme and a lucrative long term franchise with Aer Lingus.”

It claimed pay has been an issue for some time. “IMPACT lifted an earlier strike notice in 2012 after the company agreed to go to arbitration on the pay issue. It was then agreed that pay would be reviewed in 2013 but management has since refused to lift the five-year-old pay freeze. The union says it has made every effort to reach an agreement with the company to avoid disruption.”

As it stands, the strike will take place on Tuesday and Wednesday of next week, with pilots returning to work on Thursday and Friday, before going out again on Saturday and Sunday.
The airline said it had engaged with workers already but claimed that independent findings had not been accepted. It indicated that pay could be reviewed next year.

“In July 2012, management and pilots reached agreement on a number of issues, including participation in an Independent Pay Tribunal. It was agreed that the Tribunal would take account of the company’s overall commercial performance. To support the process, we facilitated pilots and their advisers access to all commercial data of the company, including our restructuring and growth plans. Subsequent proposals made by the Tribunal were rejected by the pilots.

“We have always stated to all staff that once a return to profitability is achieved, pay will be reviewed. From where we were just two years ago, the airline is making real progress. Passenger numbers are up, new aircraft are coming on stream and the route network is expanding. Our projections are for a return to profitability next year.”

They also say they will communicate any changes to their schedule through the media, SMS, email and on www.aerlingus.ie by Friday.