ABOUT 500 pilots at Aer Lingus are to share up to €7 million in compensation if they agree to work practice changes at the airline.
The deal would see pilots receive about €14,000 each in return for changes on overtime and allowances among other areas.
The result of a ballot on the deal, which forms part of the airline's overall plan to generate savings of about €20 million across a number of headings, will be known today.
Cabin crew at Aer Lingus have already accepted a deal on work practice changes. However, about 1,800 ground operation personnel, who are represented by Siptu, last week voted decisively to reject an agreement reached between management and its union negotiators in February.
Under their deal with the airline, pilots will have to fly for an additional 50 hours per year before the threshold for overtime payments is reached.
There will also be reductions in the level of compensation paid to pilots for working outside their agreed contract.
A traditional telephone allowance is also to be abolished as part of the deal.
In return for the work practice changes the company will provide compensation of €7 million for pilots and also meet all outstanding increases due under the national agreement.
The deal also allows for a new pay review for pilots to commence in 2011.
It is understood that the company has also agreed not to pursue further cuts in pay and pensions for at least three years. The deal has been recommended by the pilots' union, Ialpa.
Sources said that Ialpa chief Evan Cullen told members at a recent meeting that the deal represented less than one quarter of the changes sought by management 14 months ago.
Meanwhile, Siptu shop stewards at Aer Lingus are to meet today to review progress on local talks between management and their members over recent days aimed at resolving a dispute over work practice changes.
Union sources said last night that although some progress had been made it was nothing like enough to warrant a re-balloting on the proposals.