A BALLOT by Aer Lingus cabin crew is likely to result in a call for industrial action, according to a union source. Polling of the 800 cabin crew closes at 5 p.m. today and the result is expected to be known tonight.
The dispute is over crewing arrangements with Delta Airlines. The US company entered a seat sharing arrangement with Aer Lingus at the beginning of the month and has "bought" seats on the Aer Lingus New York routes out of Shannon and Dublin.
A SIPTU branch spokesman said the union regretted the company's announcement of the Delta arrangement "without prior negotiations with those most likely to be affected".
He said Aer Lingus was replacing one or more crew members with Delta staff. "Aer Lingus claims that for every 30 seats sold to Delta, they will expect one Delta crew member to be present on board, replacing Aer Lingus staff.
"Following the sacrifices made in the Cahill plan, cabin crew will not tolerate the handing over of their jobs as part of any deal."