Breaking: Talks between Aer Lingus and pilots in bid to halt industrial action break down
Talks between Aer Lingus and pilots in a bid to try to halt the industrial action broke down on Thursday afternoon, with no breakthrough in the long-running pay dispute.
On Wednesday, Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) members began an indefinite work-to-rule at Aer Lingus, seeing them refusing to work overtime or accept changes to set rosters. A further eight-hour work stoppage is planned for Saturday alongside the work-to-rule.
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).
“Ialpa officially moved from its inflationary figure of 23.88%. The company has not moved from its statement that anything more than 12.25% would have to be funded by pilots’ own payments through work practice.”
Aer Lingus has cancelled 270 flights through to next Tuesday, with 40,000 passengers said to be affected.
The talks got underway at 9.30am on Thursday at an airport hotel in a bid to finally reach a resolution, with uncertainty still looming for tens of thousands of passengers due to fly in July.
Earlier, Mr Tighe emerged an hour after the talks began to say both sides had agreed to allow a smaller negotiating team to try and progress talks, with teams of three on each side.
Despite the face-to-face talks appearing to be a positive step towards a resolution, it’s understood the mood wasn’t hopeful heading into the discussions on Thursday morning.
The pilots are seeking a pay increase of 24%, which they say equates to inflation since the last pay rise in 2019.
Aer Lingus has said it is willing to offer pay increases of 12.5% or above if “improvements in productivity and flexibility” are discussed.
On Tuesday, the Labour Court said it was unable to assist at this time after a sit-down with both sides, adding that it would re-assess the matter next week.
While the Government has been urged to intervene in the matter, it has said that Ialpa and Aer Lingus should resolve their issues and the industrial relations machinery of the State such as the Labour Court was there to help facilitate that.
