The planned strike at Aer Lingus, which threatened to cause disruption for tens of thousands of passengers next week, is likely to be averted on foot of proposals put forward yesterday by the National Implementation Body. Martin Wall, Industry Correspondent, reports.
The trade union Siptu, which had sought an all-out strike at the airline, is expected to recommend to its shop stewards at a meeting today that the proposals be accepted.
Under the proposals "a suitably qualified person" is to be appointed to carry out a forensic analysis of the company's controversial €20 million cost-cutting proposals and their implications for staff.
The independent expert is expected to seek to validate how the €20 million savings set out in the company's plan were arrived at and to examine whether there are any alternative measures that could be put in place.
In a statement the NIB said: "A number of issues have been raised by the parties in their discussions with the body which it believes should be further explored, especially as regards the practical and procedural implications of proposed new work arrangements and the likely impacts for earnings and cost savings arising from each, so as to deepen its understanding of the scale of the differences between the parties.
"The NIB proposes that this analysis of various elements of the change agenda would be undertaken on its behalf by a suitably qualified person using such technical assistance as necessary to clarify the scope and value of a number of issues in dispute."
The NIB is the State's industrial relations trouble-shooting body. It is made up of senior government, trade union and employer representatives.
The body is to meet with Aer Lingus management and all the unions at the airline to discuss various industrial relations processes that are under way in relation to a number of matters including the cost-cutting plan and the pay freeze for staff introduced by management in October until its reform programme was implemented.
It said yesterday it would assess progress following a meeting with the parties on Wednesday, November 28th, before issuing a final statement on Monday, December 3rd.
It said Siptu should not take any industrial action in the intervening period. It also said management should not issue any revised contracts to staff. "For the duration of this process the relevant terms for all employees should be those agreed through collective bargaining.
"Contracts will be further amended to take account of any agreed outcome from this process," the NIB stated.
Aer Lingus said it was confident that the strike notice would be lifted and that the airline would operate a full schedule of services next week. "The airline has agreed to enter a time-limited process of intensive engagement, overseen by the NIB, to determine how PCI will be implemented with all unions," it said.
Siptu's national industrial secretary Michael Halpenny said: "We are satisfied that sufficient progress has been made in discussions today with the NIB to bring back its proposals to our shop stewards in the morning.
"One of the major causes of concern was the position of contract workers, which is addressed, along with other key issues, in the process being proposed by the NIB."
Taoiseach Bertie Ahern said yesterday that both sides in the dispute should "catch a hold of themselves" and examine the impact it was having on business.
He said it was undermining confidence in the airline.