THE threat of industrial action hangs over Aer Lingus's announcement of bumper profits. The airline's chief executive, Mr Gary McGann, warned yesterday that any TEAM employees who had attended Tuesday's mass meeting and who had left their work to do so had engaged in a breach of discipline and would be investigated.

He also made it clear that Aer Lingus would not welcome the pay claim SIPTU has signalled it intends submitting shortly. This is expected to be for an increase of well over 5 per cent.

The company has already warned the craft unions at its TEAM subsidiary that it intends to recoup any losses from the disruption of production caused by the two hour mass meeting on Tuesday. The claim is under the 1990 Industrial Relations Act, which obliges unions to ballot members and issue notice before taking industrial action.

The company says that about 9,0 employees attended the meeting, while the unions maintain the figure was over 200.

Assuming the company figure is correct, the unions could face a bill of around £10,000.

The unions are now to ballot members for industrial action on a number of issues.

Ironically, relations with the company broke down at a time the unions were seeking the institution of regular monthly meetings with management to improve communications between the two sides. The unions wanted to involve TEAM shop stewards in the meetings, but talks broke down because of procedural difficulties.

Mr McGann also warned the unions that there could be serious consequences if they went ahead with industrial action at another Aer Lingus subsidiary, Airmotive, where strike notice has been served for tomorrow over a pay claim. Both TEAM and Airmotive operate in the most competitive sector of the aviation industry, Mr McGann pointed out.

Mr Paul O'Sullivan, of SIPTU, speaking earlier at a meeting of the International Transport Workers Federation in Dublin, said that the return of Aer Lingus to profitability was the result of the efforts of trade unionists under the Cahill Plan.

"Aer Lingus must now invest in its workforce in recognition of their contribution and to ensure the company continues to develop as Ireland's premier airline," he said.

Following these sacrifices, which have returned the airline to profitability, workers can justifiably feel that it is time now for the company to recognise their unique contribution."

While he would not comment on the size of a pay claim SIPTU will be presenting, it is expected to be in excess of the 5.5 per cent forgone so far under national pay agreements.

However, Mr McGann said that Aer Lingus's return to profitability did not mean that the commercial pressures on it were any less strong than in 1993, when it had to overcome a major financial crisis.