The threat of disruption to Aer Lingus services next week receded after the company agreed to a new round of talks over a dispute that threatens to shut down the airline.
The State's chief mediation body in industrial disputes called for an end to hostilities at Aer Lingus to allow for two weeks of intensive talks under headings it proposed this evening.
The National Implementation Body (NIB) called for unions and management to report back on Wednesday, November 28th and said it would issue a recommendation on December 3rd.
In the meantime, the NIB set out a series of areas for examination at the proposed talks including:
- the freeze on pay increases due under the national wage agreement;
- the company's €20m cost-cutting plan, Programme for Continuous Improvement (PCI)
- the implications of proposed new work arrangements including their effect on earnings and cost savings.
The proposals came after a day of talks at the NIB involving management and unions today.
Siptu officials will meet tomorrow morning to consider the proposal. "We are satisfied that sufficient progress has been made in discussions today with the NIB to bring back its proposals to our shop stewards in the morning," national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said leaving the talks this evening.
Aer Lingus issued a brief statement after the talks saying it had agreed to the intensive engagement proposed. It also apologised to customers for the "uncertainty and inconvenience" recent events have caused. "Management remains confident that strike notice will be lifted and that a full schedule will operate next week.
The NIB also said it wanted to appoint an expert to analyse the dispute who report back to it ahead of the meeting. In the meantime it has offered to meet the parties again to develop a greater understanding of their respective positions.
A statement issued on behalf of the NIB said: "A number of issues have been raised by the parties in their discussions with the Body which it believes should be further explored, especially as regards the practical and procedural implications of proposed new work arrangements and the likely impacts for earnings and cost savings arising from each."
It called on the parties to "desist from taking any actions with might hinder the effectiveness of the above process" including the issue of revised contracts and the taking of industrial action.
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern today called for a speedy resolution of the dispute. "I really think both sides should catch a hold of themselves and just look at what this does to their business," Mr Ahern said.
Siptu has served notice that it will engage in rolling four-hour work stoppages on Tuesday and Friday next week in protest at moves by the airline to implement the PCI. It has also applied to the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) for an all-out picket which would certainly lead to a shut down of the airline.
The appeal to Ictu followed a letter by Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion to 1,800 Siptu members threatening suspension if they engaged in the industrial action.