All Aer Lingus flights from Dublin Airport were disrupted for 90 minutes yesterday when 1,400 clerical staff ceased work over a rostering dispute involving one employee.
The incident comes less than 24 hours after the new chief executive, Mr Michael Foley, admitted that serious industrial relations problems would have to be resolved at the State airline before there could be a public flotation.
At present SIPTU is balloting on a Labour Court recommendation offering average pay rises of £850 a year, plus lump sums of between £1,000 and £2,500 in return for extra productivity.
This is expected to be overwhelmingly rejected with a strike ballot to follow.
Aer Lingus pilots, members of IMPACT, are due to stop co-operation with the company over training tomorrow, in a row over seniority. They are due to begin a work-to-rule on Tuesday in pursuit of their own pay claim for 100 per cent increase at the top of their £89,000-a-year scale.
Pay scales for clerical staff start at £9,217 and take 27 years to reach £18,700.