AER LINGUS is set to cancel 22 flights today as a result of the dispute with cabin crew over rosters.
The company said 1,000-1,500 passengers could be affected by the cancellations. The cancelled flights are mainly from Dublin to British and European destinations. However, one Shannon-Heathrow service will also be cancelled.
Aer Lingus cancelled 20 flights yesterday as a result of the dispute with cabin crew, who are represented by the Impact trade union.
The dispute has been under way for over a fortnight. Aer Lingus says passengers are being notified in advance of flight cancellations and accommodated on other services. The airline has also advised passengers to check its website for information.
Meanwhile, talks at the Labour Relations Commission, aimed at providing a resolution to the dispute, were continuing last night.
Informed sources said some progress was being made on working through the issues involved in the dispute.
Some sources also suggested that chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey could be asked to produce a report on the issue as early as today. Mr Mulvey last summer produced a comprehensive arbitration document on the issue of rosters at Aer Lingus.
The Irish Congress of Trade Unions and employers’ group Ibec, who jointly brokered the talks at the commission, said last week they expected that when contentious issues arising from the new rosters were refined, any clarification provided by Mr Mulvey would be regarded by the parties as final and binding.
Meanwhile, more than 300 cabin crew have been taken off the payroll by Aer Lingus management for refusing to operate the controversial new rosters, introduced unilaterally a fortnight ago.
Seven cabin crew who were taken off the payroll have been invited to attend disciplinary meetings with management today. The disciplinary meetings are the next stage in a process which could ultimately see staff dismissed.
Sources close to the company have suggested that if the dispute is not resolved, some staff could face dismissal by the weekend.
However, union sources have argued that existing procedures allow for an appeal process before dismissals could take place.
Aer Lingus says the new rosters are essential for it to secure increases in flying hours for cabin crew which had been agreed under an overall cost-saving plan at the airline known as the Greenfield plan.
Under the plan, flying hours for cabin crew are to be increased to 850 annually.
However, Impact has argued the rosters are overly onerous and not family-friendly.