Unions representing staff at Aer Lingus and the employer itself are in the Labour Court this afternoon to make submissions over an ongoing dispute over pay and conditions.
Unions claim that certain cutbacks that were implemented almost 18 months ago as part of a survival plan for the company should now be reversed.
Overtime rates and annual leave were cut back as well as 2,300 redundancies to avert a €254 million loss in 2002. Subsequently the company made a €64 million operating profit last year.
The two main unions at Aer Lingus, SIPTU and IMPACT also claim that management is refusing to pay the last 4 per cent wage increase due to staff under the PPF without certain changes in work practices.
The Labour Court started hearing submissions from the parties at 2.30 p.m. but no ruling from the court is expected today.
