Normal Aer Lingus schedules are expected to resume today as IMPACT cabin crew end their 24-hour strike. There will be some delays on flights to Amsterdam, Paris and other destinations where the strike began late because cabin crew were working on return flights yesterday morning.
However, travellers will still experience significant delays because baggage handlers are continuing their stoppage. Many flights will take off without hot meals as the caterers continue their lightning action.
Meanwhile, the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) is expected to invite IMPACT and Aer Lingus management to talks on cabin crew pay and conditions before the end of the week. The chief executive of the LRC, Mr Kieran Mulvey, said last night he would "accede to requests from both parties to come to the commission. Talks will begin as soon as we can confirm the availability of our own staff".
A further sign that industrial peace may soon return to the airport has been an agreement in principle to a resumption of talks between Aer Lingus and SIPTU on pay claims of baggage handlers, caterers and clerical staff. SIPTU has turned down a company request that members cease industrial action in the meantime.
Yesterday, IMPACT cabin crew marched to Aer Lingus headquarters at Dublin Airport and handed in a letter requesting an early meeting with the company at the LRC to discuss pay, pensions and working conditions.
The company had objected to attending the LRC on the basis that it was too early in the talks process. However, its director of group change and restructuring, Mr John Behan, said last night: "If IMPACT now want to go to the LRC on the basis of pay and conditions, and not on the basis of the document submitted to us on Friday, we are willing to go."
The Friday document was an IMPACT summary of talks to date. Aer Lingus had maintained it tried to lock the company into the transfer row between IMPACT and SIPTU on cabin crew representation. SIPTU cabin crew have already been through conciliation and are awaiting a Labour Court hearing on their pay claim.
Meanwhile, SIPTU's manual grade members reported for work as normal yesterday, despite fears they might not pass the IMPACT pickets. SIPTU branch secretary Mr Tony Walsh welcomed the resumption of talks with the company but said his members were not prepared to call off their industrial action. "The pay claim process has continued for so long and people are so exasperated we have no mandate to lift the industrial action," he said.
"I would err on the side of optimism that we can make progress this time but it is up to each group to assess the degree of progress made at talks over the next few days."
Mr Dan Loughrey, Aer Lingus director of corporate affairs, said talks would begin with baggage handlers this morning. Talks with clerical staff representatives, who have served strike notice for next Tuesday, will begin on Thursday afternoon. Talks with caterers will begin on Friday.
Meanwhile, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions executive is to hear a report from its disputes committee this morning on proposals to resolve the transfer row between SIPTU and IMPACT on cabin crew. Copies of the report have already gone to both unions. They have indicated their willingness to accept the report but have yet to do so formally.
There is still a strong possibility the compromise settlement will break down and further exacerbate relations. Both unions are likely to refer the findings back to their executives before deciding on a response. It is expected some individual cabin crew due to remain in SIPTU under the congress proposals will mount a legal challenge if they are not allowed to transfer to IMPACT.