Impact has served strike notice on behalf of 1,400 Aer Lingus cabin crew for Tuesday, October 17th, in a dispute over pay, pensions and the company's use of casual employment contracts. The 24-hour stoppage could cost the company over £2 million and disrupt up to 20,000 passengers if it goes ahead.
The situation is complicated by the fact that the cabin crew concerned are the subject of a transfer row between IMPACT and SIPTU. The Aer Lingus director of change and restructuring, Mr John Behan, has called representatives of both unions to an urgent meeting at the airport this morning to discuss the situation not only of cabin crew but other groups of employees threatening industrial action.
In a letter to IMPACT and SIPTU, he said the threat of act ion "on a number of fronts" could "only serve to undermine relationships within Aer Lingus, damage the company's credibility in the marketplace and cause serious inconvenience to our customers."
IMPACT's action was condemned as "provocative" by SIPTU president Mr Des Geraghty. He pointed out that the transfer dispute between the two unions was still being investigated by Mr Gerard Durcan SC on behalf of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions. "IMPACT has no members among cabin crew as far as SIPTU is concerned, or within the rules of Congress."
IMPACT insists it has accepted over 1,400 cabin crew into membership "within the rules of congress". It concluded a strike ballot last week. The union's deputy general secretary, Mr Shay Cody, said yesterday the conditions of cabin crew were "more reminiscent of the steam era than a modern and glamorous industry".
He was amazed the company was prepared to countenance massive inconvenience for passengers and large costs rather than talk to the staff's chosen representatives. "The last thing our members want is to cause disruption to Aer Lingus passengers. But they have been left with no choice because the company will not even talk to the union the staff have chosen to represent them".
The strike is planned to last from midnight on October 17th until 23.59 that evening.
Mr Cody said cabin crew are demanding major improvements in pay scales that start at just over £5 an hour and rise to about £10 an hour after 24 years' service. He also called for an end to the system of casualisation that forces all crew members to begin their careers on temporary, part-time contracts. They are only guaranteed 20 hours a week, even though they have to be available on a full-time basis. The system means staff gets no sick pay or pension contributions for up to three years. IMPACT also wants the introduction of early retirement at 50 for cabin crew.
"Aviation is a modern and glamorous sector," Mr Cody said. "But cabin crew, who are the public face of the industry, suffer low pay and casualisation more reminiscent of the steam age."