AER Lingus cabin crews are to ballot on new proposals related to their accommodation abroad and on procedures to improve industrial relations in the company. The proposals are being recommended for acceptance by their union, SIPTU.
Crews will continue working normally while the ballot is being conducted. It concludes on Sunday, February 16th.
The proposals to resolve the dispute involving 600 cabin crew were drafted by the Labour Relations Commission during 15 hours of talks on Wednesday night and yesterday morning.
The LRC is to examine ways of improving the working relationships between union and management. Its advisory service is to provide assistance in creating new procedures to help avert potential, confrontations.
On the immediate issue of suitable accommodation for cabin crews working abroad, the LRC states that "a joint approval process" should be adopted. Nominated representatives of both sides should agree accommodation criteria. If they fail to do so, the LRC will nominate an independent chairperson to make a binding adjudication on the criteria.
The LRC has proposed that staff concerns over the Lucerne hotel in New York, which sparked off the current dispute, should be resolved by May 1st, with special attention being given to the issues of security and room service.
SIPTU branch official Mr Des Hughes said yesterday that the union hoped the LRC proposals would form the basis for developing a partnership approach to resolving differences. He called on the company to "listen to what employees are telling them and to take safety and health issues seriously".
"Cabin crew are front line staff. If they are not able to get decent accommodation they will not be at their best when dealing with the travelling public, on whom we all ultimately depend," he said.
The Aer Lingus spokesman, Mr Dan Loughrey, said that the company "welcomes the outcome and the company feels that the LRC's proposals provide a framework for the successful resolution of the accommodation issue. More importantly, perhaps, it also provides the framework for us to move forward constructively in the future."