There will be no Aer Lingus flights today as a result of industrial action by IMPACT cabin crew members. However, it remains unclear if other airlines will be affected by the dispute.
Servisair shop stewards are meeting early this morning to decide their attitude towards the IMPACT pickets. Their company provides check-in, loading, towing and other services for Delta, Continental, Air 2000, City Flyer and Czech Airlines. They also provide loading facilities for CityJet. If they refuse to pass pickets, passengers for these airlines might suffer delays.
There was a heated meeting of SIPTU general operatives at the airport yesterday over whether to obey a union instruction to report for work. IMPACT, which does not have an all-out picket sanction from the ICTU, has not asked other workers to stay out. Its deputy general secretary, Mr Shay Cody, said the union did not wish to inconvenience other airport users.
Meanwhile, SIPTU has served strike notice on Aer Lingus on behalf of 1,400 clerical staff who also have a pay claim outstanding. This is due to take effect from next Tuesday.
As with baggage handlers and catering workers, clerical staff are expected to take guerrilla action initially. Areas affected would include reservations, check-in and boarding procedures and accounts.
There was some progress on the baggage handlers' dispute yesterday, with SIPTU and the company exchanging letters on the possibility of talks. However, the union has refused a management request to stop its industrial action in the meantime.
Aer Lingus said it regretted the action by IMPACT. "In our view this strike is not about pay but other issues. We are prepared to talk about pay. We have proposals on pay and obviously want to make those proposals through negotiations in the interests of our staff and customers."
Mr Cody said the dispute "is only abut pay and conditions. If the company has proposals to make, it should set up an early meeting with the Labour Relations Commission and make them there."
IMPACT has meanwhile informed Ryanair that it intends balloting its pilot members in Ryanair on industrial action from Thursday. Assistant general secretary Mr Michael Landers said members were not prepared to accept efforts by the company to link better pay to longer flight duty, a five-year industrial peace clause and annualised pay increases of less than half current inflation rates.
The company said IMPACT's statement was a smokescreen to distract attention from the problems within Aer Lingus. It had made a comprehensive proposal for a new five-year agreement which would provide a 15 per cent pay rise over five years, a 15 per cent "up front" increase in allowances, options over £100,000 worth of shares and a new roster that would guarantee pilots three days off after every five days worked.