An action by 44 former engineers with Team Aer Lingus, who are seeking to be treated on the same basis as comparable Aer Lingus staff who remained with the national airline, has been adjourned by the High Court to see if agreement can be reached.
The adjournment was sought yesterday by Patrick Hanratty SC, for Aer Lingus, who said his client wanted time to consider the matters raised. However it was opposed by John Rogers SC, for the workers, who said the action had been brought because of Aer Lingus's failure to pay his clients the money owed to them.
Ms Justice Mary Laffoy said she would grant the adjournment to March 21st to see if agreement could be reached and because there was "no point in ratcheting up more costs". The case could resume, if necessary, she added.
The former Team engineers, who have been redeployed as clerical workers, baggage handlers and cleaners, are seeking an injunction compelling Aer Lingus to give them from now and until their retirement the same wages and entitlements as if they had never left the airline.
The workers say those entitlements should be backdated to March 2006 when the Supreme Court made formal declarations in their case.
Aer Lingus has denied any breach of the Supreme Court decision and contends that, as the workers have been redeployed, they are entitled only to the pay and conditions applicable to their new positions.