Aer Lingus talks not likely to halt stoppage

Aer Lingus cabin crew will be represented at a meeting between unions and management of the company tomorrow, but their attendance will not curtail a work stoppage planned for next Tuesday. The airline management has invited all unions to a meeting to discuss the general situation facing the company in the light of what it says are a number of demands relating to pay and conditions from different sections within Aer Lingus.

The Impact trade union, which represents 1,400 cabin crew and which has served notice of Tuesday's work stoppage, says tomorrow's meeting is not specific enough and, in the absence of specific negotiations, the action will go ahead. The 24-hour stoppage could cost the company more than £2 million and disrupt up to 20,000 passengers.

Aer Lingus said yesterday it accepted there were "legitimate claims" from staff and during negotiations had made offers to resolve these claims "in the context of productivity, flexibility and efficiency".

It was still operating a full flight schedule and no disruptions due to the negotiations had occurred. It said the meeting between union leaders, officials and representatives was to enable dialogue to take place with all the parties.

At the core of the Impact dispute are pay, pensions and the company's use of casual employment. The situation is complicated by the fact that the cabin crew concerned are the subject of a transfer dispute between Impact and SIPTU.

Impact's deputy general secretary, Mr Shay Cody, has described conditions for cabin crew as "more reminiscent of the steam era than a modern and glamorous industry". Cabin crew are demanding major improvements in pay scales. He also called for an end to the system of casualisation.