Aer Lingus strike set to go ahead tomorrow

As tomorrow's strike is set to ground most of the company's fleet, Aer Lingus has called a special meeting of its Board to take stock of the company's general trading environment.

Aer Lingus today called for a special meeting of its Board next Monday to consider the company's trading performance given the impact of the foot-and-mouth crisis on travel and the industrial relations environment.

The company has cancelled all out-bound flights because of a 24-hour work stoppage tomorrow by 3,000 SIPTU clerical and operative staff over pay equity.

It is expected 21 in-bound flights from the US and Europe will proceed. Customers with reservations for Friday should call the company's freephone number: 1-800-77 77 71 for alternative bookings.

More than 17,000 of the 20,000 passengers will be unable to travel with an estimated loss to the company of £2 million.

Another one-day strike is scheduled for next Thursday, April 12th, ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend.

A SIPTU spokesman said the dispute arose after productivity issues were set aside in the pay agreement reached between the company and cabin crew. Clerical and operative staff had agreed to productivity and flexibilities in return for a new pay deal.

According to SIPTU a letter in relation to both the clerical and operative pay deals stated if another group within the company received a substantial pay increase without increased productivities their members would also seek an increase.

SIPTU claims the company was aware of this clause before they started payments under the new agreement.

But Aer Lingus strongly rejected suggestions of favouring one group over another. A company spokesman said each group - clerical, cabin crew and operatives - had negotiated separate deals depending on the type of work involved.

He denied the company had set aside extra productivities and flexibilities when agreeing the cabin crew deal. "Productivities will be discussed over the next six-months as per our agreement," he said.

The company said SIPTU was not comparing like with like as all the agreements were different.

Labour Court chairman Mr Finbar Flood told ireland.comno decision had been taken on holding a meeting between the parties next week.