HOPES of an early resolution to the Aer Lingus dispute have increased with the decision of SIPTU's cabin crew committee to recommend acceptance of the Labour Court findings to its members. The company has also said it will accept the court's findings.
The first of a series of mass meetings for cabin crew members will be held at Dublin Airport today to explain the court's findings. The union committee met all day yesterday to consider them before agreeing to recommend their acceptance.
The dispute was over the deployment of a Delta "flag carrier" on the New York-to-Dublin route. This is required by the strategic agreement between Delta and Aer Lingus. Aer Lingus wanted to reduce its own staff from 11 to 10 on each flight as a consequence of the agreement. The union threatened widespread industrial action if the company implemented the change unilaterally.
The court called both sides into talks nine days ago and issued its findings on Tuesday. It proposed that cabin crew levels be maintained at 11, but that the Delta "flag carrier" should be accepted as a full crew member by Aer Lingus staff and be allowed to sit in a crew seat.
The cabin crew committee met all day yesterday to discuss the court's findings. Afterwards, SIPTU branch official Mr Des Hughes said the committee was recommending acceptance to members "because we are satisfied that it provides the safeguards on jobs that the union was looking for". The court findings also provide for proposals under which safeguards can be put in place to ensure that agreements between the company and the union are adhered to.
An Aer Lingus spokesman said that, "following careful and serious consideration", the company was accepting the Labour Court recommendation. He described it as "the final position being offered to both cabin crew and the company" and called on SIPTU members to accept it.