Talks to avert threat of another Aer Lingus strike adjourned

Talks between management at Aer Lingus and representatives of cabin crew aimed at resolving a dispute over rosters which led to a 24-hour strike last Friday adjourned last night and will reconvene tomorrow.

The trade union Impact which represents cabin crew has warned there would be further industrial action at Aer Lingus, probably running over two days, if there was no progress in the talks.

At the talks it is understood Impact sought for management to withdraw notices of its intention to suspend indefinitely the cheap travel privileges of those involved in the strike last Friday. Under current arrangements, staff at the airline can avail of stand-by travel on Aer Lingus flights at discounted rates.

The cabin crew are demanding a more structured roster arrangement which would see them work for five days and then be off for three days. They say this fixed roster arrangement is currently in place for pilots at the airline.

It is understood the airline has said it would look at the introduction of such a roster arrangement if it could be put in place on a cost neutral basis.

Sources said management had not yet put forward specific cost-saving measures aimed at offsetting the bill for introducing new roster arrangements for the company’s 1,200 cabin crew.