Aer Lingus threatens to suspend staff

Aer Lingus has warned Siptu members that they will be suspended if they refused to confirm in writing that they intend to fulfill their duties as normal next week.

The airline said earlier today it intends to meet staff in an effort to avert industrial action.

A letter sent to employees by the airline's chief executive, Dermot Mannion, this afternoon has invited staff to meet him over the next two days to allow him to outline the reasons why it is important that services operate as normal.

However, the letter also asks Siptu members for a commitment in writing by next Monday that they will continue to fulfil their duties. It warned that those who fail to respond will be suspended from the payroll.

Siptu served strike notice on Aer Lingus on Monday over what it said was the airline's decision to "unilaterally downgrade" the working conditions of its employees.

Responding to the decision to send a letter to employees, SIPTU national idustrial secretary Michael Halpenny, said  "The company certainly needs to improve its communication skills with the workforce, but I am not sure this is the best way to go about it."

Halpenny claimed strike notice had been issued because the airline is forcing temporary employees to sign employment contracts offering worse pay and conditions by refusing to extend employment for contract staff beyond January 31st.

It is expected that over 20,000 passengers travelling though Dublin, Cork and Shannon airports may be affected by the rolling four-hour work stoppages on Tuesday, November 20th, and Friday, November 23rd.

Aer Lingus, which has been battling with unions to cut overheads since its privatisation last year, averted flight disruptions in October after reaching a last-minute deal with pilots over a disputed new base in Belfast.

At that time, the airline was criticised about not passing on information to passengers of how it intended to deal with disruptions.

The Consumers Association of Ireland said earlier today that the airline was once again failing to keep its customers informed as to what plans it has in place to deal with the industrial action.

"This is a case of history repeating itself over a very short period of time in relation to Aer Lingus and the possibility of flights being cancelled. The airline's chief executive acknowledged last time out that it was important that consumers knew what was happening and said that lessons had been learned, but clearly they haven't," said Dermot Jewell, the association's chief executive..

"The worry is that again we're very close to the point where work stoppages are about to commence, and those who have paid for a flight and need to travel on the affected dates are hearing nothing back in relation to a contingency plan."