A body set up in December to help restore industrial peace has intervened in the Aer Lingus dispute and asked both sides to return to the Labour Court. Both the company and the union IMPACT are expected to comply.
This is the first time the National Implementation Body (NIB) has intervened in a dispute. It comprises the Secretary General to the Government, Mr Dermot McCarthy; the general secretary of the Irish Congress of Trade Unions, Mr Peter Cassells; and the director general of the Irish Business and Employers Confederation, Mr Turlough O'Sullivan.
Its intervention follows strong criticism of IMPACT by Mr O'Sullivan for sanctioning a 24hour strike by cabin crew members yesterday. In a statement announcing its intervention, the NIB administered a rap on the knuckles to IMPACT.
The statement said NIB members had "conveyed their concern at the implications of the industrial action at Aer Lingus and the reported plans for further action in the context of the commitment to industrial peace and stability in the PPF [Programme for Prosperity and Fairness]".
Aer Lingus is to resume normal services from tomorrow, but IMPACT has threatened a 24-hour strike on Friday, February 16th, and two further stoppages the following week.
When the two sides reconvene, the Labour Court is expected to build on a formula proposed by its chairman, Mr Finbarr Flood, during Sunday's unsuccessful talks.
This proposed that the most contentious new work practices for cabin crew be "put on ice", including the introduction of more onerous duties for new recruits. However, huge obstacles remain in agreeing how many new work practices should be dealt with in this way.
If agreement is reached, cabin crew would be paid the increases recommended in the court award, which are worth at least £2,000 a year to each employee, while further talks took place. Besides agreeing the scale of new flexibilities, some alternative means of addressing the issue of long service increments, to bring the top rate of pay from £22,500 to £25,000, would be examined.
A complicating factor in any new talks is that SIPTU cabin crew are due to conclude their strike ballot tomorrow . Like IMPACT cabin crew, they are expected to endorse further industrial action.
So far relations between the two unions, who engaged in a bitter row over the transfer of members last year, has prevented joint negotiations with management from taking place.
Following a march to Aer Lingus head office yesterday, the chairwoman of the IMPACT cabin crew committee, Ms Nora O'Reilly, handed in a letter for the airline's chief executive, Mr Michael Foley. It called on the company to enter meaningful talks and told him cabin crew were seeking better conditions "because they are committed to remaining in the company."
Management said it was "determined to resolve the issues concerning pay and conditions fairly". In the British Midland dispute, the ATGWU has formally requested the ICTU for permission for an all-out picket. It has asked SIPTU and IMPACT to support its application. If granted, the all-out picket would lead to SIPTU and IMPACT members refusing to co-operate with staff British Midland have brought in to break the strike.