Crew to work more hours in return for roster changes

ANALYSIS:AS PART of the deal which resolved the Aer Lingus dispute cabin crew will increase their flying hours to 850 per year while the airline will introduce changes to its rosters to make them more family friendly and provide for improved quality of life.

Neither the trade union Impact nor Aer Lingus would release the terms of the deal, however it would appear all parties received some of what they wanted.

One of the main elements of Impact’s campaign during the dispute was that all meals breaks had been removed for cabin crew on European flights. It is understood that under the deal a meal break can now be taken at the discretion of the senior cabin manager. However, sources said that if a meal break was not possible the cabin crew would receive “credits” which can be exchanged for a cash payment. Sources said that “credits” were currently worth €4.75 each.

The union had also expressed concerns that staff could have their duty hours changed by three hours on the day of duty. It is understood this will be reduced to two hours.

The union had also raised the issue of cabin crew being asked to work “doubles” – flights out to and back from a destination twice in a day. Sources said the company will now seek to put together a group of volunteers who would opt to work such arrangements and thereby complete their week’s duties at an earlier stage.

Sources said the deal also allows for cabin crew to apply for one weekend off in every eight and would guarantee that where staff have a week’s leave, they would also have a weekend off either beforehand or afterwards.

The agreement brokered by the Labour Relations Commission also states that the company will immediately restore to duty all those who had been removed from the payroll.

Management is also to expunge the details of any disciplinary action taken in relation to the dispute from the records of staff.

The deal also states that both parties will honour all agreements and that disputes will be resolved through normal procedures. “Both parties commit to industrial peace for the lifetime of the Greenfield agreement,” it says.

Impact, for its part, is to withdraw complaints against the company it had made to the Data Protection Commission and the Equality Tribunal.

The issue of the number of days staff have off per roster period and issues relating to reform of on-call arrangements have been referred to the chief executive of the Labour Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey for arbitration.