Aer Lingus and union in talks to try to avert strikes

UNION leaders and Aer Lingus managers are expected to recommence talks at the Labour Relations Commission this afternoon over the future of the airline’s cabin crew base at Shannon.

Members of the Impact union have voted for industrial action over the airline’s plan to shut the cabin crew base, with the loss of 87 jobs, and over rostering arrangements.

Both sides met yesterday at the Labour Relations Commission but the talks were adjourned by the evening. The discussions are due to start again at 12noon today. ‘At the request of the LRC, Impact will be making no further comment on the talks at this time,’ the union said last night.

Cabin crew in Impact voted by 91 per cent in favour of industrial action – and this could lead to strikes coming up to Christmas.

Earlier Niall Shanahan, from Impact, said there would be no mention of a strike until talks had been completed. He said: ‘The priority this week was to get into a discussion about Shannon and the transatlantic services and that is our focus. We have a mandate for industrial action but we have a legal requirement to notify the employer seven days in advance and we haven’t done that as we want to advance discussion.’

The airline plans to outsource staffing on transatlantic flights from the airport. It blamed the union’s refusal to operate flights with fewer cabin crew. Aer Lingus has yet to comment on the strike ballot.