Talks adjourn at Aer Lingus over restructuring plan

Talks between Aer Lingus management and union officials over restructuring at the company have been adjourned until tomorrow …

Talks between Aer Lingus management and union officials over restructuring at the company have been adjourned until tomorrow morning.

Leaving the talks, Siptu National Secretary Mr Mick Halpenny had a brief statement for waiting reporters.

"The parties met again today for discussions in an attempt to agree a structure and framework for substantive talks."

"Following this afternoon's discussions management asked for further time to reflect on the issues before us and we have agreed."

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Mr Halpenny went on to say that talks would be resuming at 10 a.m. in the morning.

Siptu members called off a one-hour general meeting that would have resulted in flight delays at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports on Saturday, after Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Willie Walsh agreed to meet them.

Workers are looking for the removal of the September 14th deadline for acceptance of the redundancy deal which will see 1,325 jobs cut.

Some of the topics Siptu expressed concern over included management cutting of
business-class seats and slashing the interline cargo service.

The redundancy package offers nine weeks' basic pay for each year a worker has spent at the company, up to a limit of 15-years.

Union chiefs are concerned that around 40 per cent of staff would not receive the full benefit of the package because they have been with the company longer than 15 years.

Members of Siptu will also look for a guarantee that the remaining jobs would be safe.