Aer Lingus says any new rosters must not hit costs

Aer Lingus has said it is willing to examine how rosters for cabin crew can be amended to introduce a greater work/life balance but this would have to be set against maintaining the airline's cost base.

Its comments came ahead of talks with cabin crew, who are represented by the union Impact, scheduled to take place in the middle of next week following a 24-hour work stoppage yesterday.

Hundreds of Aer Lingus cabin crew yesterday maintained that existing roster arrangements were erratic, left them exhausted and interfered with their family lives.

Meanwhile, Ryanair, the largest shareholder in Aer Lingus, has said cabin crew should face a loss of their cheap travel concessions as a sanction for going on strike.

The cabin crew stoppage grounded some 200 scheduled Aer Lingus flights and affected the travel plans of nearly 30,000 people.

The cabin crew are demanding a more structured roster arrangement which would see them work for five days and then be off for three days. They say this fixed roster arrangement is currently in place for pilots at the airline.

Impact official Michael Landers warned yesterday there would be further industrial action at Aer Lingus if there was no progress in the forthcoming talks.

Aer Lingus has said that the 24-hour stoppage cost it “multiple millions” but declined to set out an exact figure.

It said the airline had lost all revenue for yesterday and a significant amount earlier in the week and for next week as it had to use seats which would normally be sold to fare-paying passengers to reschedule those affected by the strike. It said it also incurred costs in hiring aircraft.

Aer Lingus said “an over-hanging cloud of doubt” about industrial action at the airline had led customers to veer away from its website and was chasing them into the arms of its competitors.

Industrial relations

Ryanair has criticised the board and management at Aer Lingus over the way industrial relations have been handled at the airline.

Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary said: “On a day when 1,000 workers in Bausch & Lomb are facing job cuts and pay cuts, it is unacceptable that public sector unions in Aer Lingus are again disrupting the travel plans of up to 30,000 Aer Lingus customers. The failure of the board and management of Aer Lingus to put an end to this industrial relations blackmail is unacceptable.”

Staff view - what they said

Michela Moloney

The rosters are completely erratic. This week I was off on Monday, working Tuesday, off Wednesday, working Thursday, today, Saturday and Sunday. I have my roster now until June 29th and after that I have no idea what I will be doing for the rest of year.

“I want the company to use me to my full potential, which would be well rested, working the maximum hours under [the] Greenfield [a cost saving agreement with the company] and to continue to do that but in a planned way .

“Pilot colleagues too had to fight for it [the fixed five-day on, three-day off roster which cabin crew are seeking] but the company has since come back and said it is working very successfully for them. Airlines all over Europe use this roster pattern.

“It just means I would be well rested, to plan my family life outside of Aer Lingus and ready to serve passengers as well I can.”

Audrey Fennell, Senior cabin crew member who has worked at the airline for 25 years:

The erratic roster arrangements make me feel like I am living in my uniform. Often I get home and I have to think about whether I have time to have something to eat before I go to bed, constantly watching the clock, thinking about sleep patterns and jet lag, it completely consumes my life.”

Deirdre Dennedy

As cabin crew we feel we have not been listened to by management for the last few years.

“We are looking for fairer rosters, planned rosters, rosters with which we can have some form of family life. Rosters that we can carry out our caring responsibilities. At the moment I am watching colleagues and they really are not able to do the job to the best of their ability which is all they are looking to do.

“I am one of very few cabin crew to have a part-time roster, week-on, week-off. It is an absolutely wonderful roster arrangement. There is literally a handful left [with this roster]. The company has refused to give this roster to anybody else. I am very fortunate. I am here to support my colleagues I am working with these girls and guys every second week and see how exhausted they are.”