AER Lingus and its unions have agreed structures for a European Works Council, Padraig Yeates writes. It is the first EWC to be established in the civil aviation industry and one of the first in the transport sector.
The agreement is one of only three so far concluded in the EU, which makes provision for the representation of British, US and Swiss based employees on the council.
Britain opted out of the EU Social Chapter, under which works councils were established, and the company does not have to extend representation rights to employees in nonEU states.
Agreement on the EWC comes at a time when Aer Lingus and its unions have been undergoing a difficult period of readjustment. Cabin crew with the company briefly operated a work to rule during the summer over staffing levels on the New York to Dublin route and its pilots are considering strike action over pay.
Mr Paul O'Sullivan of SIPTU, the main union at Aer SIPTU, the main union at Aer Lingus, welcomed the signing of the agreement yesterday. He said it went well beyond the minimum EU requirements in its terms of reference.
EU legislation only requires work councils to meet once a year and they do not have to consult with unions. The Aer Lingus agreement provides for at least two meetings a year. It can discuss issues that only affect employees in one country and will be linked to existing trade union structures.