Aer Lingus pilots to announce results of strike ballot

The fresh ballot was taken after the airline questioned the union’s use of an electronic ballot that last week saw the vast majority of pilots at the airline vote in favour of strike action.

It’s looking increasingly likely that Aer Lingus pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) will stage strike action after pay talks this week ended without any progress being made.

“Aer Lingus queried the validity of Ialpa conducting a ballot for industrial action via electronic means, having regard to the statutory requirements for secrecy and the provisions of the Ialpa constitution,” a spokesperson for the airline said this morning.

They added: “Aer Lingus notes that Ialpa is now re-conducting a ballot for industrial action via a paper process.”

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However, it’s certain the outcome will mirror the previous ballot where virtually all the Ialpa pilot members voted in favour of industrial action.

There remains a significant gulf between the two sides in terms of their demands.

On Thursday, Aer Lingus asked the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) to give the airline at least 15 days’ notice of any strike action in order to give it more time to help impacted passengers.

Legally, the union has to give a minimum of one week’s notice before any industrial action is taken.

“Aer Lingus met with Ialpa again today for direct discussions with a view to reaching agreement on pilot pay,” said a spokesperson for Aer Lingus on Thursday evening.

“No meaningful progress was made, with Ialpa continuing to demand an unsustainable level of increase in pilot pay (up to 23.8pc) that was not supported by any increases in productivity or flexibility,” they added.

“Aer Lingus offered to continue to engage in direct discussions on meaningful productivity and flexibility proposals to enable increased pay,” according to the spokesperson. “Aer Lingus also offered to request the support of the Workplace Relations Commission in order to further explore solutions. Both of these offers were rejected by Ialpa.”

The airline is pushing for productivity improvements and increased flexibility from its almost 800 pilots in return for agreeing to a higher pay increase than it has already offered.

Mr Tighe said on Wednesday that the result of the ballot showed that Aer Lingus pilots are “determined to secure a fair and reasonable pay rise after years of inflation”.

Mr Tighe said: “The result of this ballot shows the resolve and determination of our members to get a fair share of the large profits that Aer Lingus are making. Last year, they reported €225 million profit – an increase of 400pc on the previous year.”

Aer Lingus has increased its profitability after incurring huge losses during the Covid pandemic.

The airline has offered pilots a 12.25pc pay increase, which included 3.75pc to pay for a 2019 crewing agreement.

An independent pay tribunal last year recommended a 12.25pc increase in consolidated pay and a 1.5pc rise in unconsolidated pay for the pilots.

The Labour Court recently recommended an interim 9.25pc pay increase for pilots.

With the busy summer season kicking off, Aer Lingus will be carrying about 40,000 passengers every day on its services. It’s likely about 95pc of passengers on any given strike day won’t get to travel.

The impact would be felt by its passengers in Ireland, across Europe and in the United States and Canada.