Aer Lingus services operated normally yesterday as talks continued with a wide range of company employees, including cabin crew.
Meanwhile, 300 air traffic controllers (ATCs) have been offered a 17 per cent increase in basic pay, bringing the top of their scale to £49,500.
The offer is being considered by their committee, according to IMPACT assistant general secretary Mr Michael Landers. A similar increase was conceded to 60 data assistants earlier this year by the Irish Aviation Authority (IAA), bringing the top of their scale to £18,000.
However, many individuals in both groups stand to gain much more from allowances. A £2,000 duty allowance for data assistants means an increase of 27 per cent in gross pay.
At least 40 per cent of ATCs will be paid an "expert allowance" of £3,000, pushing their gross earnings up by 24 per cent. The increase is being largely funded by operational savings and the offer is based on a Labour Court recommendation.
The main sticking point for ATCs appears to be a proposal that controllers who lose their licence should retain existing rights to full pay. The IAA wants to shed the obligation although, to date, no ATC has lost his, or her, licence.
Meanwhile, talks on the pay claim by Aer Lingus cabin crew began at the Labour Relations Commission yesterday. Talks also continued between SIPTU and management on the baggagehandlers' claim.
The union formally served notice of industrial action on behalf of more than 1,400 clerical staff, to start on Friday, October 27th. It will take the form of a four-hour stoppage, which has the potential to paralyse Aer Lingus operations on the day.
Assistant branch secretary Mr Morgan Nolan said: "Clerical staff have been left with no option but to take this action to seek improvements in their pay. Management has failed to deal with low pay over the past two years.
"Our members do not take this industrial action lightly and regret any inconvenience caused to the travelling public. We would appeal to passengers not to vent their anger on frontline staff, but to direct their complaints to Aer Lingus management."
The clerical members taking this action comprise check-in staff, boarding staff, ramp controllers, operations control, reservations, travel shops and administration staff in Dublin, Cork and Shannon.