The chairman of the group of Aer Lingus craft unions is to meet Mr Gerard Durcan SC today, writes Barry O'Keeffe. This will begin the process of bringing the unions into talks, which will ultimately see the sale of TEAM Aer Lingus to the Danish group, FLS. All the unions at TEAM, the Aer Lingus aircraft maintenance subsidiary, are now expected to take part in negotiations with management next week, in what is being seen as a major breakthrough in paving the way for a sale.

The unions are to hear details of Aer Lingus management's revised offer, said now to be worth £35 million, compared to the initial offer worth £28 million.

Earlier this week the craft unions opted to defer going into talks. They wanted guarantees similar to those which had been extended to the Amalgamated Electrical and Engineering Union (AEEU) at the plant. It is understood that Aer Lingus quickly acceded to the request by nine unions.