Aer Lingus catering staff face lay-offs

Aer Lingus is threatening to lay off 450 catering staff who resumed industrial action yesterday over pay

Aer Lingus is threatening to lay off 450 catering staff who resumed industrial action yesterday over pay. SIPTU shop stewards are to meet union officials today amid fears that layoffs could begin on Monday.

Talks begin at the Labour Court today on the cabin crew pay claim, first with IMPACT and then with SIPTU. IMPACT has served notice of a one-day strike next Friday if progress is not made in the talks.

The caterers' action meant that meals were not available on some flights yesterday. Their decision to engage in rolling action followed talks on Wednesday on local elements of the pay package, which all 1,500 general operatives are balloting on.

Aer Lingus, in a letter yesterday to the SIPTU branch secretary, Mr Tony Walsh, said that if the caterers' action continued the airline would have "no option but to close down production in the catering department and take the necessary steps to lay off staff".

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The airline said that no further improvements were possible in the pay package. More than 1,000 other general operatives are voting on similar packages, so any renegotiation would risk unravelling the other deals.