Aer Lingus, IALPA hold fresh talks in pilot pay dispute

Aer Lingus and the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) are due to meet for talks today in a bid to resolve their ongoing pay row.

Pilots began an indefinite work-to-rule yesterday and are planning to engage in an eight-hour strike on Saturday.

Aer Lingus has cancelled 270 flights because of the industrial action, affecting the travel plans of thousands of passengers.

The airline extended a fresh invite to talks to IALPA yesterday and the two sides will meet this morning.

However, the industrial action is due to continue.

The work-to-rule involves IALPA members not working overtime or any other out-of-hours duties requested by management.

They are also refusing to log on to Aer Lingus online portals or answer work phone calls outside of work hours.

The airline said that the first day of the action yesterday did not result in any additional cancellations but warned that disruption is likely over the coming days as the work-to-rule continues.

A spokesperson for Taoiseach Simon Harris said he welcomed the planned resumption of talks and urged both sides to engage in good faith to resolve the dispute.

Sinn Féin, however, called on the Government to proactively engage to ensure a resolution is found.

IALPA and Aer Lingus management attended separate meetings at the Labour Court on Tuesday in a bid to resolve the dispute but the court advised both parties that it would not be intervening at this time and would review the matter in July.

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