A Labour Relations Commission finding aimed at settling a dispute over new rosters at Aer Lingus has “a lot of positives” according to the trade union which represents the majority of cabin crew at the airline.
Impact said the 39-page document issued yesterday by the commission’s chief executive Kieran Mulvey would provide “a fair bit of comfort” to the union’s members at Aer Lingus.
A spokesman said there was no immediate threat of industrial action among cabin crew at the airline, adding that a suspension of a planned work-to-rule would remain in place until members had been consulted about the arbitration finding.
The proposed action centred on new working arrangements Impact said were imposed unilaterally by the airline as part of a €97 million cost-saving plan. It said the new roster would see cabin crew working longer hours and losing breaks and rest periods.
Aer Lingus said the changes to traditional rules governing the issues, introduced last month, were necessary to allow for all cabin crew to be rostered in such a way that they work an agreed total of 850 flight-hours annually.
Mr Mulvey’s finding recommends a revision of existing agreements – rather than their abandonment – in order to meet the agreed working hours.
“This should not be a new negotiation process,” he said.
“The opportunity should be taken to work together to produce a ‘new book’ of whatever colour to provide mutual clarity of the working arrangements for cabin crew”.
Mr Mulvey said cabin crew had made a major commitment in terms of pay and conditions in order to improve efficiency and return the airline to profitability.
Impact said cabin crew would be consulted at Dublin, Cork and Shannon over the coming days to read, digest and discuss the document.