Aer Lingus cabin crew back settlement proposals in Shannon row

Aer Lingus cabin crew based at Shannon Airport have voted to accept proposals drawn up at the Labour Relations Commission aimed at resolving a dispute over staffing levels on new trans-Atlantic services.

The row had prompted Aer Lingus to threaten to close down the facility which employs just under 90 staff.

The trade union Impact, which represents cabin crew, said 82.8 per cent of its members at Shannon had voted in favour of the proposals.

The company had previously accepted the Labour Relations Commission proposals.

Earlier this month cabin crew at the airline had voted in favour of industrial action in protest at the company’s move to close the Shannon base as well as in relation to other issues such as rosters.

Under the proposals drawn up after talks at the Labour Relations Commission last week, for an initial period from January to March next year many of the new TranAtlantic services, will be operated using five cabin crew.

This will subsequently be reduced to four cabin crew.

The proposals would also involve the payment of financial incentives for staff working on routes with four cabin crew.

An overall review will take place in July under the proposals.

The proposed new Aer Lingus trans-Atlantic services from Shannon, which are to commence in January, will use smaller aircraft than the airline currently operates.