Aer Lingus and IALPA to resume negotiations over strike action
Aer Lingus and the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) have resumed direct talks as the two parties seek to avert further strike plans.
“IALPA has indicated that the association…
June 26, 2024
Aer Lingus and the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) have resumed direct talks as the two parties seek to avert further strike plans.
“IALPA has indicated that the association is willing to return to negotiations to try and find resolution to the current dispute,” wrote the trade union on social media, which claims it has repeatedly sought to engage with Aer Lingus.
This comes as the airline confirmed it has cancelled 50 additional flights over the course of 1 and 2 July “in order to protect as many services as possible from the impact of IALPA’s continuing industrial action”. These augment the 120 flights already cancelled on 29 June, impacting 15,000 customers on Aer Lingus short-haul services.
Aer Lingus had previously written to IALPA on 23 June, stating it “is available for meaningful direct discussions… in order to seek a resolution to this pay dispute,” adding that it has “repeatedly sought to engage directly with IALPA on ways to increase pilot pay beyond the 12.5% increase agreed with all other collectively bargained groups”. IALPA, however, reiterated that Aer Lingus had not requested a meeting to try and resolve the pay dispute.
IALPA initially served notice of industrial action by Aer Lingus pilots on 18 June, with the union stating: “Our Aer Lingus members are in this position because management have failed to provide them with a meaningful offer on pay that accounts for inflation and the sacrifices made by pilots to save Aer Lingus during the pandemic”, concluding that “all that is left for the pilots to express their rights is to take this route”.
Aer Lingus said that IALPA have “rejected the outcomes of two independent process which have sought to resolve the issue, including a Pilot Pay Tribunal report which recommended a three year pay deal similar to that which has been agreed by other employee groups”. The airline also states that IAPA “also rejected an interim Labour Court recommendation which would have further improved the pay position of pilots,” criticising IALPA’s pay increase request of 27% “unsustainable”.
