The Government has been urged to step in and become a “broker” in resolving issues between Aer Lingus and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) to avoid significant disruptions to the holiday season.
Pilots at Aer Lingus served notice to the airline of their intention to launch an indefinite work-to-rule from next Wednesday.
It comes after Ialpa pilots voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay earlier this week.
The Government must urgently intervene in the dispute between Aer Lingus and their pilots.
There must be a fair deal worked out quickly to ensure we don’t have people’s holiday plans disrupted this summer pic.twitter.com/ekpsZUMavM— Mary Lou McDonald (@MaryLouMcDonald) June 19, 2024
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From next Wednesday, Ialpa members at the airline will not do any overtime or out-of-hours duties.
Sinn Féin leader Mary Lou McDonald said that the frustration of Aer Lingus pilots has been building for a long time.
“Aer Lingus failed to deliver pay and conditions improvements in line with colleagues in British Airways and Lufthansa,” Ms McDonald told the Dáil.
“The airline needs to reengage with the pilots union, get back around the negotiating table and hammer out a fair deal.
“We’re still a week away from the start of industrial action so there is still trying to sort this out and to avoid any escalation.
“We’re heading now into peak holiday season.”
She added: “Aer Lingus should use the next seven days to negotiate a fair deal with the pilots that averts industrial action.
“Of course this must involve the industrial relations machinery of the state, but every influence now needs to be brought to turn things around and ensure a successful outcome.”
Standing in for Taoiseach Simon Harris during leaders’ questions, Minister for Justice Helen McEntee said that the dispute can only be resolved by all parties getting round the negotiating table.
“I appreciate that a significant number of pilots, quite a high percentage, have voted for this action. But I also believe that none of them want to see this type of disruption taking place,” the Fine Gael minister added.
“It’s important that they and the employers here being Aer Lingus get around the table, that’s the only way in which these issues can be resolved.
“There has been input from the industrial machinery of the state through the WRC (Workplace Relations Commission) and then later the labour court. What’s clear is that there’s still quite a wide gap between what has been asked and what has been proposed.
“The only way that this can be resolved is by all parties getting around the table and, if necessary, and where necessarily using the machinery of the state.
“If that means going back to the WRC, if that means engaging and negotiating with the support of the state or if that means again, reengage in with the labour court.
“I would ask people maybe to take a step back because the implications here are far reaching for those who have holidays booked, those who wish to travel.”
Ms McDonald said the Government was “unclear” in what it is planning to do to resolve the issues.
“I don’t think it’s sufficient to simply sit back, cross your fingers and hope that that is the outcome,” she added.
“I think the Government now needs to be more assertive than that and become a broker and a positive influence in sorting this out, and just bringing relief to everybody who wants to have a smooth and indeed a prosperous summer.”
Ms McEntee said that any major disruptions could be “absolutely significant” to Ireland’s international reputation.
“The only way that this can be resolved by all parties coming around the table, by all parties taking a step back, by looking at the potential implications here, by looking at what the potential options are to find a resolution to this,” Ms McEntee added.
