Despite the threat of strike action, Aer Lingus has taken the first step in implementing a radical cost-cutting plan by issuing controversial contracts to new cabin crew in recent days.

The airline's management and a union delegation made representations yesterday to the National Implementation Body (NIB), which is intervening in the industrial dispute over the proposed cost-cutting measures.

Siptu's national industrial secretary, Michael Halpenny, expressed surprise that the airline had taken this action while negotiations were still ongoing with the NIB, and said it was "very hard to understand why they made this move".

"It makes the task of the NIB immeasurably more difficult, and it's a totally unnecessary move," Mr Halpenny said.

"All it's doing is making everybody's job to try and stabilise the industrial relations environment all the more difficult."

He described the airline's action as "tearing up the rulebook" and said that it was "in complete breach of all of their commitments", referring to agreements made by the airline that changes would not be forced through without consultation.

Siptu has already begun balloting its members on strike action. It is expected that the result of the ballot will be known next week.

Mr Halpenny said the situation had disimproved since the ballot began, and that the airline's action had increased the chance of a strike.

Michael Lanvers of Impact said that it had not begun balloting its members yet but was "ready to go".

The NIB is expected to deliver its recommendations early next week.

The new contracts issued so far only affect new staff, but the airline has already indicated that new terms and conditions affecting existing staff will come into operation on March 1st.