Aer Lingus strike called off after Labour Court proposal

Thursday's planned strike by 3,000 Aer Lingus clerical and operative workers has been called off following a series of exhaustive talks at the Labour Court today.

SIPTU representatives emerged from the discussions and confirmed that 85 - 90 per cent of what they were seeking had been worked out and that the proposals would be put before their members for ballot in the next few weeks.

Aer Lingus said it welcomed the Labour Court recommendations which provided a resolution of the issues under discussion between the Company and the operative and clerical members of SIPTU.

Nearly 3,000 clerical and operative staff represented by SIPTU are seeking parity with cabin crew colleagues. Talks at the Labour Court adjourned at 2.30 this morning after 16 hours.

At a special board meeting yesterday, Aer Lingus warned profits this year will fall to £15 million from £60 million in 2000.

The airline's directors told the meeting the spate of strikes, foot-and-mouth in Britain and a slowdown in the US economy were causing a severe downturn. It announced it is to review its schedule and to suspend staff recruitment immediately.

But at the Labour Court yesterday SIPTU insisted the airline's management was attempting to "further fuel" a difficult set of circumstances at Dublin, Shannon and Cork airports by creating an impression of a company "on the brink of disaster".

The union is seeking a £1,230 top-of-the-scale increase - conceded to cabin crew - for clerical and operative staff.

It also wants the current 18-point scale for administrative grades to be reduced to 15 as is the case with cabin crew, and application of the cabin crew "increased differential" to clerical and operative staff.