Aer Lingus cabin crew, who are members of Impact, are expected to ballot for industrial action tomorrow on pay and union recognition. The company is currently negotiating with SIPTU and has offered to increase rates for the lowest cabin crew grades by 14.5 per cent.
The company had indicated it would decide tomorrow whether to recognise Impact's right to represent cabin crew, provided the Irish Congress of Trade Unions could resolve a bitter inter-union row between Impact and SIPTU over who should negotiate.
Impact claims almost 1,400 of the l,650 cabin crew have signed forms to leave SIPTU. However, SIPTU disputes these figures and says it will defend its right to negotiate exclusively for cabin crew.
Meanwhile, pilots from international airlines grouped in the One World alliance are expected to back a claim by Aer Lingus pilots for a pay increase of up to 45 per cent when they meet in Dublin today.
Aer Lingus pilots have submitted a claim for pay parity with their counterparts in British Airways and American Airlines, which are also One World alliance members.
The company's director of corporate affairs, Mr Dan Loughrey, says it has offered to go into a pay review process, but so far IALPA had refused the offer. "If they want to present a pay claim it must be through the agreed procedures," he added. He also said Aer Lingus did not accept pay rates should be bench-marked with the highest paying companies with One World.