Aer Lingus and pilots union agree to smaller negotiating teams in attempt to progress talks

Discussions between Ialpa and Aer Lingus will continue with a team of three on each side.

The negotiations got under way at 9.30am this morning.

“We have met with Aer Lingus management. Aer Lingus have agreed to have a smaller team of three people on each side to see if things can be progressed,” Mr Tighe said.

“That will continue as we speak and I will now prepare for a meeting with Barclays and airline investors this afternoon.

“The negotiations will continue on a more technical basis with a smaller group and we hope that management will see a solution.

“I couldn’t comment on what is going on in there other than negotiations are continuing.”

This comes as travel perks for striking pilots and their families have been suspended “until further notice” as Aer Lingus said its top priority is to mitigate significant disruption to passengers.

In a document sent to all pilots, management announced it is cancelling flight privileges including cheap tickets, changing sick-leave arrangements following a rise in absences and will not allow the use of car parks during strike action.

It is understood some pilots commute to work from abroad using the travel privileges.

But new talks today will give passengers fresh hope that a long-running pay row can be resolved. The discussions are due to take place at 9.30am at the ­Maldron Hotel, near Dublin Airport, after the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) accepted an invitation from the airline to face-to-face talks.

Passengers ‘anxious’ about industrial action at Aer Lingus

An indefinite work-to-rule began yesterday and an eight-hour strike is planned for Saturday. The pilots want pay rises worth a total of almost 24pc paid in phases over three years.

The Labour Court has asked Ialpa not to ramp up its action until it reviews the dispute on July 1, but no commitment has been given.

In the letter to pilots, the airline issued a number of warnings and threatened to dock pay if unofficial action takes place.

Aer Lingus said its priority is to mitigate the significant disruption that is being caused by the union’s proposed industrial action. Where possible, it says it will reaccommodate customers who are affected.

The letter claimed the action is clearly designed to frustrate all the airline’s efforts to avoid significant flight cancellations

“As a consequence, and effective from 26 June 2024, all staff travel privileges, and tickets (including those already issued) for those Ialpa/Fórsa members who participate in this industrial action, [and] their qualified relatives… will be suspended until further notice,” said the letter from chief operations officer Adrian Dunne.

He said any travel privilege bookings already made for the remainder of June and for July will be cancelled and refunded and bookings beyond this timeframe kept under review.

The “private and confidential” message said it is inaccurate for Ialpa or Fórsa to describe it as a “strict work-to-rule” and claimed it “goes far beyond this”.

“It is very regrettable that the Ialpa community is now embarking on an escalated course of action which will not only damage our business but will significantly disrupt the travel and holiday plans of so many of our valued customers during our busy summer season,” it said.

The letter claimed the action is ­clearly designed to frustrate all the airline’s efforts to avoid significant flight cancellations at short notice and would negatively affect pilot training.

It was revealed as Aer Lingus unexpectedly invited Ialpa to talks yesterday.

This followed unsuccessful informal discussions at the Labour Court earlier this week.

It is unclear whether Aer Lingus will change its negotiating stance at today’s talks, and Ialpa has already said it has no mandate to discuss issues that the airline wants to address.

It appears the airline’s position regarding flexibility and productivity changes in order to lift a pay offer by Aer Lingus beyond 12.25pc remains unchanged.

Meanwhile, the letter to pilots warns that any action that breaches agreements or contractual obligations will be regarded as unofficial industrial action.

Those who participate will be immediately removed from the payroll or held personally liable for any losses.

“For the avoidance of doubt, a pilot will be subject to a proportionate deduction of pay in respect of part-performance of a rostered duty,” it said.

The letter said pilots must not wear their uniform during any picketing

It warned that if there continues to be a noted increase in pilot absences or inflexibility outside the official industrial action, it will take “appropriate action”.

The letter says there has been a noticeable increase in “ad hoc” pilot sick leave. It says it would temporarily amend its sick leave policy from yesterday so that any pilot on sick leave will be required to be certified by a doctor from the first day of their absence.

In addition, pilots taking part in the weekend strike may not use the airline’s staff car parks at Dublin and Cork Airport during the stoppage.

The letter said they must not wear their uniform during any picketing.

Other Aer Lingus staff, including cabin crew, secured pay rises worth 12.25pc in a deal that spans from last year to next year. Pay was boosted by 5.75pc last October, or €1,840, whichever is greater; 3.5pc was applied from January 1 this year; and 3pc is due from next January 1.

In addition, there will be a once-off tax-free voucher payment on October 1 this year, worth €750.

A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said: “Staff travel for pilots participating in industrial action has been discontinued.

“The purpose of this is to allow additional space for the re-accommodation of passengers who have been disrupted by the continuing industrial action which commenced on 26th June and the strike action taking place on 29th June.”