The threat of disruption to flights at the State's main airports on Saturday has been lifted after Aer Lingus chief executive Mr Willie Walsh agreed to meet union officials tomorrow.
Siptu national industrial secretary Mr Mick Halpenny
Siptu was accused today of "industrial relations grand-standing" by scheduling a general meeting of members at Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports for noon on Saturday unless the company lifted the September 14th deadline for acceptance of its redundancy package.
The CCI's Mr John Dunne supported the airline's position saying there was "plenty of scope for meaningful discussion over the next fortnight and there is no need to resort to this kind of blackmail tactics."
However in the past hour, SIPTU national industrial secretary Mr Mick Halpenny said
the meetings were cancelled after Mr Walsh agreed to a meeting tomorrow having previously insisted he was unavailable before Monday.
While the deadline has not been changed, Mr Halpenny said he hoped tomorrow's talks would be approached with a "positive tone".
"As a priority we will be seeking the lifting of the September 14th deadline on redundancies in order to allow us space for proper negotiations on the major issues," he said.
Mr Walsh has previously stated the schedule for the airline's three-year restructuring plan would not be changed by workers recent vote in favour of strike action.
Aer Lingus plans to cut 1,325 jobs and has offered an €80 million redundancy package, including up to nine weeks of pay per year of service.
But SIPTU says the package is not as attractive at it appears and also wants a pay rise for workers who choose to stay at the airline after restructuring.
The Labour Party meanwhile has called on the Minister for Transport, Mr Brennan, to make a statement about the strategic direction the airline is taking.
With concern expressed from many quarters about the effect any cuts in Aer Lingus routes to the regions could have on local economies, transport spokesperson, Ms Roisín Shortall said Mr Brennan "has been notably silent".
"The developments at Aer Lingus have major consequences for tourism and
exports. As the national, State-owned carrier, there is a key role for Aer
Lingus in the movement of cargo, the attraction of tourists and regional
development," Ms Shortall said.
Aer Lingus has announced it is ending its cargo service to Britain and parts of Europe from next week.
Mr Brennan said last month that the company's future would be sorted out by the autumn but refused to comment on a management-buy-out plan being led by Mr Walsh.