Industrial action by Aer Lingus cabin crew was suspended yesterday following talks between their union, Impact, and the company. About 1,000 cabin crew had been engaging in limited action since September 1st, when a work-to-rule was implemented in a row over pay and productivity.
The two sides are in dispute over the amount of work practice change crew should accept in return for a 4 per cent pay increase due under the previous partnership deal, the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness. Payment of a further 3 per cent rise due under Sustaining Progress has also been delayed because of the dispute.
Cabin crew, who staged a one-day stoppage last month, have been refusing to work on flights which did not have the agreed number of staff. Aer Lingus has maintained services by hiring in aircraft for the flights affected.
A Labour Court recommendation on how to resolve the dispute was discussed by the two sides on Thursday and yesterday, and further discussions are to take place on Monday.
Impact said that enough progress had been made to allow a suspension of the industrial action so that members could ballot on a proposed agreement.
Its negotiating team, it said, had secured firm guarantees on the main concerns of cabin crew regarding the faster aircraft "turnaround times" which the company is seeking.
The company had also agreed to an independent three-month monitoring exercise on faster turnarounds, which was recommended by the court. It was therefore instructing members to lift all industrial action and work normally, with immediate effect.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said the company did not wish to comment until the talks process was completed.
