There are fears of major disruption at Aer Lingus after operative and clerical staff announced plans for industrial action today over a claim for pay parity.
A spokesman for the company said management had requested an urgent meeting with SIPTU, who represent the staff, and that talks are currently under way.
A series of 24-hour strikes are planned, beginning this Friday and continuing on April 6th and 11th.
The airline rejected SIPTU’s claim for parity last week after the union lodged a claim seeking the same pay terms as those recently agreed with Aer Lingus cabin crew.
A spokesman for Aer Lingus said significant pay and conditions had already been accepted by clerical and operative staff last November.
He said: "These agreements must be honoured...to return within 10 weeks of these agreements and to demand more money is irresponsible and can only damage Aer Lingus."
The spokesman said SIPTU’s claim for pay parity was rejected on the basis that all settlements were unique to each group of staff, which were pursued separately by the union. He said no group received significantly different payments that others.