Minister won’t intervene as Aer Lingus dispute worsens with 124 flights cancelled and strike called by pilots

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke will not intervene in the worsening dispute between Aer Lingus and its main pilots’ union as the airline last night cancelled more than 100 flights that were scheduled for next week.

The plans of tens of thousands of passengers have been thrown into further chaos as pilots declared a full-scale day of strike action in addition to the open-ended work-to-rule beginning on Wednesday, saying they had been provoked into the escalation by management.

The pilots will strike from 5am-1pm next Saturday, June 29.

However, the Government does not intend to invoke a clause in industrial relations legislation to force the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) and Aer Lingus management to go back to the Labour Court or the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to resolve the pay dispute.

Ialpa president Captain Mark Tighe said the industrial action is being intensified because of what he claimed was a “campaign of antagonism” by Aer Lingus management.

Tánaiste calls on both sides in the Aer Lingus dispute to get back around the table

“We have been forced to escalate this dispute following a campaign of antagonism by Aer Lingus management directed toward our members,” he said.

“Rather than meeting with Ialpa for direct negotiations to resolve this dispute, the airline is sending letters to Ialpa threatening to cut members’ terms and conditions by unilaterally terminating collective agreements.”

Mr Tighe said lawyers for Aer Lingus have threatened to sue the Ialpa executive committee.

“Aer Lingus’ legal representatives have also written to each member of the Ialpa executive committee this week, in their personal capacities, threatening to issue proceedings in the High Court for alleged unlawful conduct regarding an alleged increase in pilot absence due to illness,” he said.

Aer Lingus said yesterday that 124 of its flights are being cancelled, primarily to city destinations such as Brussels, London, Frankfurt, Dusseldorf and Rome. The cancellations represent just over 10pc of the flights planned for that period. It has also targeted the cancellations at cities where it has higher frequencies, rather than sun destinations as people start to jet away on their holidays.

So far, just one transatlantic service – to New York’s JFK – has been cancelled.

The number of cancellations so far is lower than the up to 20pc of its schedule that Aer Lingus had warned earlier this week could be cancelled over the first five days of action.

But Aer Lingus chief corporate affairs officer Dónal Moriarty said the number of cancellations could still increase as the start of the action approaches.

Speaking about the addition of the day of full-scale strike action announced by Ialpa in addition to the work-to-rule, Aer Lingus said: “The company said it is appalled that Ialpa would further escalate this industrial action, following the insidious action previously announced.

“Ialpa’s decision is clearly designed to inflict maximum damage on passengers’ travel plans at the peak of the holiday season. Aer Lingus will assess the impact of this notice of strike action and do everything we can to minimise the further disruption this will cause to passengers.”

The hospitality sector has expressed fears that the industrial action will damage businesses across the country over the all-important summer season.

Mr Burke, the Enterprise, Trade and Employment Minister, has appealed to Aer Lingus management and the pilots’ union to resume talks.

“I urge both sides, in the interests of the people of this country, to get around the table and work out an agreement on this issue,” he said.

“Air connectivity is vital for an island nation like ours, and I am conscious that it is a particularly busy time of the year for holidays that people have looked forward to and worked hard for all year.”

IAG-owned Aer Lingus has accused the pilots’ union of “blackmail”.

Ialpa has insisted that the near-24pc pay increase it is seeking for Aer Lingus pilots is justified due to inflation. While the union says pilots have not received a pay increase since 2019, pilots still move up salary scales every year, meaning they gain lucrative hikes to their pay on an annual basis.

Aer Lingus has offered a 12.25pc pay increase, while last month the Labour Court recommended an interim increase of 9.25pc, which was rejected by the pilots. An independent pilot pay tribunal last year also recommended 12.25pc and a 1.5pc increase in unconsolidated pay.

Mr Burke has the power under the 1990 Industrial Relations Act to refer a trade dispute – either actual or expected – to the Labour Court or the WRC.

It is believed the powers have never been invoked by any minister, however. It is also understood that Aer Lingus has not asked the minister to use them.

“The WRC and the Labour Court remain available to the parties to facilitate this necessary engagement, and that is ultimately the framework in which this matter can be resolved,” the minister said.

“Every effort must be made to resolve this dispute and it is vital that both parties act responsibly and re-engage, as recommended by the Labour Court.”

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