AER LINGUS passengers face the possibility of further industrial relations trouble following a decision by management to set a deadline of Tuesday evening for 1,800 ground-operation staff to agree to operate controversial new work practices.
It is understood that management yesterday told staff that they would be taken off the payroll next Wednesday if they did not co-operate with the implementation of new rosters and working arrangements.
Some sources said management also indicated that it may consider out-sourcing some of its existing ground-operation services if agreement was not reached with staff.
It is understood that management said that, while it would continue contacts with staff on the proposed new rosters over the coming days, it set 5pm on Tuesday as the cut-off point for these discussions.
The 1,800 ground-operation staff, who include baggage handlers, check-in personnel and caterers, last week voted decisively to reject a deal on work-practice changes which had been agreed between their union, Siptu, and management in February.
As part of the new work-practice proposals set out under this deal staff would have been asked to work shifts of varying lengths.
Airline management would also have had the freedom to move personnel between duties, for example, between check-in and boarding, during a shift. The moves are aimed at generating savings of around €10 million, largely through avoiding the recruitment of additional staff.
The company has already concluded cost-saving agreements with pilots and cabin crew which collectively will generate a further €10 million savings.
However, the work-practice change proposals, which were drawn up following talks which lasted for more than a year, were rejected by Siptu members by a three-to-one margin last week.
There have been contacts over recent days between management and the staff concerned about how the proposed new rosters would affect individual workers in various sections of the airline.
However, union sources have said in recent days that although some progress had been made, it was not enough to warrant a reballoting on the proposals.
Union sources have maintained that some staff simply do not want to agree to changes on the scale sought by the company.
An Aer Lingus spokesman was unavailable last night to comment on the developments.
In a brief statement, Siptu said it welcomed the company's decision to extend the period of talks to next week. However, it said its primary concern was the conditions and income of its members.
Siptu already has a mandate for industrial action at the airline in the event of management seeking to implement new work-practice changes unilaterally.