Aer Lingus strikes averted as both sides accept recommendations

The threat of strike action by Aer Lingus cabin crew has been averted after both sides involved in a dispute over rosters accepted an interim Labour Court recommendation to resolve the disagreement.

Strikes planned for next Monday and Wednesday, which would have affected about 35,000 passengers each day, were called off last night following 8 hours of talks at the Labour Court.

The court issued an interim recommendation this morning setting out specific suggestions to deal with the issues at the centre of the dispute between management and cabin crew.

The recommendations include the recruitment of 20 additional cabin crew staff, the establishment of a technical group to consider the introduction of a five day on, three day off roster for short-haul flights, and a third day off post duty for cabin crew working on the San Francisco route.

The Court also suggested both parties carry out an “urgent review” of industrial relations practices, and establish a forum to resolve disputes quickly after they arise, to be overseen by the Labour Court.

In a statement issued this afternoon, Aer Lingus said it accepted the Labour Court’s suggestions and apologised to customers “most sincerely for the inconvenience and uncertainty created by the recent industrial action”.

The trade union Impact, representing the workers, said the Labour Court recommendation “forms a good basis for the settlement of the issues in dispute” which the union will pursue “vigorously in detailed negotiations with Aer Lingus over the coming weeks”.

Minister for Transport and Tourism Leo Varadkar said the Labour Court's intervention would help to "minimise the possibility of similar disputes arising in the future", and urged both sides to accept the recommendations.

Aer Lingus said this morning that the company’s full-year operating profit would be an estimated 10 to 20 per cent lower in 2014 than last year as a result of industrial action at the airline.

A strike by cabin crew last month affected 28,000 passengers, costing the airline around €10 million.