Staff at Aer Lingus begin voting on industrial action

Balloting of Aer Lingus workers for industrial action in a dispute over pay and condition began at the weekend and is expected to conclude by February 7th. Possible industrial action could take place by the middle of next month.

Meanwhile, last-minute efforts are expected today in an attempt to resolve a dispute at Dublin port before industrial action begins tomorrow morning with a picket by tug boats at the port's entrance.

Arthur Hall, regional secretary of the Technical, Engineering and Electrical Union, said they were "hoping for a miracle" before the picket begins at 7am tomorrow.

Other unions at the port are meeting today to decide whether to support the picket in the dispute which directly involves 30 people.

Nine electricians and fitters have so far been suspended in the row with port management. The union claims management wants them to work on tug boats rather than in the port itself, and to fill in for ship's crew when they are short-staffed.

Talks on the dispute at the Labour Relations Commission broke down on Thursday.

In the Aer Lingus dispute, the Irish Congress of Trade Unions (Ictu) is today expected to again contact the National Implementation Body (NIB), the tripartite industrial relations watchdog, following Ictu's application on Friday for the NIB to intervene.

Michael Halpenny, national industrial secretary for Siptu, which represents 50 per cent of Aer Lingus's 3,600 staff, said all the unions were available to discuss the company's plans through the facilitation of the Labour Relations Commission.

Talks at the LRC adjourned on Friday without conclusion, while the dispute was referred to the NIB.

The row centres on the company's cost-saving proposals which the unions claim will result in lesser terms and conditions for new staff members from February 1st and lesser terms and conditions for existing staff from March 1st.

The unions claim the changes are being implemented without consultation and agreement.

The company has said there has to be savings to retain competitiveness.