AER Lingus management and cabin crew representatives are to attend a Labour Court hearing this morning to try and resolve the dispute over staffing levels on the Dublin to New York route. However, union hopes of keeping 11 Aer Lingus personnel on the flight have suffered a setback. The Labour Court is recommending that SIPTU accepts the company's case for reduced staffing on another transatlantic service.
Every summer, Aer Lingus leases a second aircraft to cope with the bulge in tourist traffic between Dublin and New York. This flight is known as El 107. The regular flight is El 104/5. In the past both aircraft have had 11 Aer Lingus cabin crew and, in the case of El 107, a "flag carrier" crew member from the lessor company.
This year a new aircraft, the L10-11, is being leased from British Caledonian with two Caledonian cabin crew, required for safety purposes. SIPTU offered to reduce the Aer Lingus staffing complement to 10 while the company wanted only eight. In a recommendation issued last week, and seen by The Irish Times, the court has sided with the company.
"It is obvious that the requirement to have two crew from Caledonian Airline on board the L 10-11 must be complied with. Whilst notwithstanding the union's fears as to long term employment in the company, the court nevertheless considers that to recommend in favour of the union's position would place excessive financial outlay on the company which, in the short and long term, would be to its detriment and that of the staff", the court said.
The dispute is almost identical to that on the El 104/5 flight. The court decision on El 107 may have influenced management strategy at the Labour Relations talks on Wednesday, where it refused to make any concessions to the union. The hearing on the El 107 dispute was held by the chairwoman of the Labour Court, Ms Evelyn Owens. She is also chairing today's session.