Management at Aer Lingus intend implementing in full its survival plan despite pilots tonight voting against new work practices.
In a short statement this evening, the airline said that following extensive consultation and arbitration it considered the process complete and was moving to immediately implement its survival plan.
Its plans will be boosted by the pilot’s overwhelming agreement over a reduction in their numbers, but their union IMPACT says the full implementation of the survival plan would be a breech of existing agreements while new work practices had not been agreed.
The results of the ballot of pilots released today showed they were almost unanimously against plans for new working conditions but their union representative, Mr Michael Landers, says his members are willing to discuss the matter.
The Aer Lingus statement said progress had been made in cutting costs and operating new practices but warned: "Much more needs to be done for Aer Lingus to remain competitive and the need now is to move beyond survival to build a robust, commercial business which is sustainable in the longer term."