Aer Lingus yesterday said it was "determined" to maintain a normal service in spite of a significant escalation in the dispute involving cabin crew.
Members of Impact are to hold one-day strikes on Friday, October 23rd and Monday, October 27th, over pay and productivity. This would be the first full-scale industrial action by the union, which represents more than 1,000 cabin crew, since a work-to-rule was implemented five weeks ago. The action was because of the company's failure to pay increases in October 2002 and July 2003, the union said. It claimed cabin crew had agreed to productivity concessions in return for the payments but Aer Lingus was "constantly moving the goalposts". "Its new demands, linked to a 25-minute turnaround for aircraft, would mean a predominantly female workforce working additional flights while losing meal breaks and money," said Ms Christina Carney, an official with the union.
Aer Lingus said the company had accepted two Labour Court recommendations but both had been rejected by the union.
