Industrial action is not inevitable but unions and management at Aer Lingus are at odds, writes MARTIN WALL, Industry Correspondent
CONFRONTATION AT Aer Lingus has become a distinct possibility following the decisive vote by cabin crew for industrial action.
However, there will be a two-week period before any action takes place in the row over how a €97 million cost-saving plan is being implemented for cabin crew. Perhaps more crucially, an arbitration process on this issue, which is being chaired by the Labour Relations Commission, is due to be completed about the same time.
This two-week breathing space and the arbitration process could give the parties an opportunity to determine if agreement can be found on new rules to apply in relation to rosters, time off, breaks and so on that would enable all cabin crew to fulfil a new requirement for 850 flying hours annually.
This requirement was set out in the cost-saving plan, known as Greenfield, which was introduced for all staff in recent months.
Aer Lingus sources said that while some cabin crew are currently working 850 flying hours, others are working only 400-500 hours. The company sources argued that changes to traditional rules governing areas such as time off between flights and breaks, which the company introduced unilaterally in recent weeks, are necessary to facilitate rosters that ensure all cabin crew operate the 850-hour requirement.
But Impact, which represents the cabin crew, said that these changes to working conditions go far beyond those agreed by staff when they accepted Greenfield. The union said Aer Lingus unilaterally abolished agreed rules on working time and imposed new rosters based on minimum legal protections.
There will be no immediate strike by cabin crew on foot of the vote yesterday. However, from August 25th cabin crew will revert back to the traditional rules and working arrangements which were in place until management imposed changes several weeks ago.
If the arbitration process cannot bridge the gap, the prospect of disruption to services in the weeks ahead will largely depend on the reaction of management to the cabin crew’s move.
The public response last night by Aer Lingus to the vote was very carefully worded. There was no re-statement of the stance management adopted earlier this year when cabin crew initially rejected the Greenfield plan. At that stage it warned that it would let go all 1,200 cabin crew and re-employ most on inferior terms and conditions.
The airline said it welcomed the decision by Impact cabin crew to work to their contracts and in particular the public confirmation by the union yesterday that all cabin crew would work to the agreed 850 flight hours per year.
However, the airline said it would “continue to gradually phase in the agreed productivity levels”.
This was a reference to the very rosters and working arrangements that are at the heart of the current dispute.
The developments yesterday increase the potential for disruption at the airline. But this is not inevitable and the completion of the arbitration process at the end of the month could provide the basis for a negotiated settlement to the row.