Pilots at freight airline ASL Holdings will strike next week in a dispute over trade union recognition and pay.
Swords, Co Dublin-based ASL delivers parcels for Amazon, DHL and FedEx among others.
Around 90 members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) at the company will strike for 16 hours next Tuesday, December 16th, the trade union has told management.
Ialpa accused the airline of refusing to meet its negotiators at a crucial stage in talks on a deal covering union recognition, pay and conditions.
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The sides were due to meet on Tuesday but the company cancelled, according to a union statement.
Capt Daniel Langan, Ialpa vice-president said the union was “extremely disappointed” at ASL’s decision to cancel a meeting scheduled for Tuesday.
The sides had been due to conclude a deal on union recognition and begin talks on pay, Capt Langan confirmed.
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“Our members feel they have been left with no choice but to strike for the fair pay and conditions they deserve,” he added.
Most of the pilots working for ASL Ireland are members of Ialpa, the organisation maintains.
They voted to strike early last month after what the union said was the company’s repeated failure to answer requests to meet to discuss the issues.
Pilots did not strike as management began talks with their union.
Capt Langan maintained that Ialpa representatives had negotiated in good faith, giving the company every opportunity to reach a deal.
He stressed that the union remained available to meet ASL at any time.
“We stand ready to negotiate pay, terms and conditions on behalf of our members,” said Capt Langan.
ASL operates airlines in Ireland, Belgium, France and the UK, as well as Africa, Asia and Australia.
While it is not as well known as passenger carriers, the company has significant businesses in the territories in which it operates.
Its Irish pilots plan to strike from 5pm Tuesday December 16th to 8am the following day. A lot of the carrier’s flights are at night.
The company did not comment on Tuesday.
