Aer Lingus cabin crew are to go ahead with bank holiday industrial action after a hearing at the Labour Court yesterday failed to end a dispute with management.
The two 24-hour work stoppages by 1,000 Impact union crew members will take place next Thursday, October 23rd, and Monday, October 27th, possibly causing severe disruption to thousands of passengers.
Aer Lingus is refusing to pay cabin crew an outstanding 4 per cent increase under the Programme for Prosperity and Fairness (PPF) unless they offer the greater productivity it is seeking.
The airline wants staff to sell food and drinks on board, to make quicker aircraft "turnarounds" and to start work earlier in return for the PPF payment.
In a statement the airline said it was disappointed with the union's decision "despite an eight-hour hearing in the Labour Court.
"Impact refused the Court's request to suspend the strike threat to give consideration to its recommendation to settle the dispute."
Aer Lingus maintained it would keep flights going and said it would be publishing schedule details.
Last week, talks broke down in the Labour Court, but both parties agreed to return to the negotiating table following the intervention of the National Implementation body late last week.
Impact members have been operating a work-to-rule since the start of September. Although the airline says it has had "virtually no effect," some flights have been cancelled and others delayed.
