Aer Lingus pilots ‘considering further strike action’ after talks with management break down

The Irish Airline Pilots Association (Ialpa) has already declared a day of full strike action for this coming Saturday in addition to its open-ended work-to-rule which began on Wednesday.

Already more than 200 flights have been cancelled, affecting more than 30,000 passengers at the start of peak summer holiday season.

It is understood the union executive is now considering adding further strike action.

For this to happen, its executive committee would have to ask the disputes committee within its umbrella union Fórsa for sanction. If it is approved, the union would have to give the company seven days’ notice.

Responding to the latest development, Aer Lingus said: “We note the intention of Ialpa to consider further strike action and to request Forsa’s approval of such action. Aer Lingus believes that this would be entirely inappropriate given the request of the Labour Court this week that the dispute should not be escalated.”

Talks between Aer Lingus and representatives of the pilots’ union to resolve the industrial dispute broke down earlier today.

Ialpa said it had moved from the figure of 23.8pc that it was seeking for a pay rise, in a bid to resolve the ongoing pay dispute.

Representatives of pilots’ union and Aer Lingus management had been engaged in negotiations on Thursday morning in an attempt to bring an end to the stand-off.

Ialpa president Mark Tighe said: “At this point, talks have broken down.

“We are allowed a smaller group – both sides did – to meet to see if they could come to some sort (of agreement),” he said.

“Ialpa officially moved from its inflationary figure of 23.88pc. The company has not moved from its statement that anything more than 12.25pc would have to be funded by pilots’ own payments through work practice.”

In its latest communication to Ialpa members, the union said it had lowered its 23.88pc pay demand in a conversation with airline investors.

It said its executive would meet this afternoon to consider today’s negotiations.

“Talks concluded today without agreement and without further talks planned due to the companies stated inability to increase above 12.25 percent without IALPA providing significant work practice changes. IALPA moved in its position in relation to the pay increase sought in the context of trying to reach an overall agreement,” the statement said.

“IALPA met with airline investors today for a Q&A, facilitated by Barclays Bank to give an insight on the dispute from a union perspective.

“IALPA will continue to be available to talk with Aer Lingus in good faith, however it is incumbent on the airline to change their position, the same position stated in the PPT.

“The company has escalated the dispute by reinforcing that they will unilaterally alter or terminate the majority of our Collective Agreements and also issuing new instructions to ground staff to prevent pilots from accessing the airlines lounges.”

Aer Lingus chief corporate affairs officer Donal Moriarty said that the airline “engaged constructively” in discussions with Ialpa and Forsa.

“We tried to discuss items that could actually resolve this dispute, in particular we tried to discuss productivity, flexibility and the modernisation of our collective agreement,” Mr Moriarty said.

“All items that we believe are essential to reaching a pay deal with Ialpa and increasing the 12.25pc that was agreed with all other collectively bargained groups, increasing that for pilots.

“We believe that discussion of those items are essential.

“Unfortunately Ialpa was unable to enter into discussions on those items. In fact, it informed that it had no mandate to do so.

“We advised Ialpa and encouraged them to revisit that mandate in order to put within their power the normal aspect of pay negotiations.”

A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said: “Pilots are on strike for eight hours on Saturday 29th – it would seem that this would be an opportune time for IALPA to meet pilots to adjust IALPA’s mandate so that it is capable of engaging in meaningful negotiations that can resolve this dispute.

“The Labour Court indicated to both parties on June 25 that it would respond positively to a joint referral of the dispute to the Labour Court for its assistance. In this context, Aer Lingus is willing to proceed with a formal joint referral to the Labour Court and calls on Forsa to agree to such a formal joint referral.”

This morning, Mr Tighe said both the union and Aer Lingus had agreed to smaller negotiating teams to try to progress talks.

Discussions between Ialpa and Aer Lingus continued 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.

The discussions kicked off at 9.30am at the ­Maldron Hotel, near Dublin Airport, after 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.”