Clerical and catering staff at Aer Lingus have deferred industrial action for one week to allow talks at the Labour Court on their pay claim. Caterers had planned strike action tomorrow, and clerical staff were due to strike on Friday.
Both groups have now deferred strike action until Friday, November 10th. They will review their decision in the light of progress made in talks with the company at the Labour Court.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said that the company looked forward to talks opening at the Labour Court. He confirmed that schedules would operate normally on Thursday and Friday.
Nearly 1,200 clerical staff were involved in a four-hour stoppage last Friday, which led to delays for 17,000 Aer Lingus passengers at the start of the bank holiday weekend. That evening the Labour Court invited both sides to talks on condition that this week's strike action was deferred. A similar invitation was issued to catering staff.
Both disputes have been simmering for weeks. Clerical staff walked off the job in a 90-minute unofficial stoppage four weeks ago. Ostensibly this was over early-duty rosters, but the underlying cause was low pay scales.
So far, the company has offered increases worth up to 26 per cent at the bottom of the clerical staff grade, but it is seeking significant cost-cutting measures in return. These include the reduction of overtime rates from double time to 1.6 of the basic rate. The company also wants to reduce annual holiday leave for new staff from 26 days to 20, the statutory minimum. SIPTU has rejected both measures.
Caterers staged a series of lightning strikes earlier this month which prevented hot meals being supplied to many aircraft. Their action was also prompted by a long-standing pay claim.
Shop stewards for both groups met separately yesterday. They decided to defer action only after protracted discussion on the options open to them. Basically, these involved deferring or escalating industrial action.
Later, SIPTU's Aer Lingus branch secretary, Mr Tony Walsh, said that while his members had agreed to suspend industrial action, this position would be reviewed in the light of whatever offers Aer Lingus made.
He added: "If the company fails to improve significantly the offer it made last Wednesday, Aer Lingus catering and clerical staff will be left with no alternative but to reschedule their respective work stoppages for Friday, November 10th."
The deferment of strike action by caterers and baggage-handlers means that all the main groups within Aer Lingus, except pilots, are back in some form of formal negotiations with the airline. Pilots are continuing to refuse to work unrostered. However, this has not yet caused disruption to scheduled services.
Meanwhile, Ryanair has given its pilots until this morning to sign a new deal comprising pay rises of 16 per cent and increased allowances worth another 15 per cent over the next five years, as well as share options valued at £100,000 per pilot. However, the pilots are expected to reject the offer, as they are currently balloting for industrial action.
Ryanair pilots are unhappy with staffing ratios of four per aircraft, compared with five on most other airlines. They are dissatisfied also with the increase offered on basic pay, with pension provisions and with the company's requirement for a five-year industrial peace clause.