- author, Davey Wilson
- Role, BBC News NI
-
Aer Lingus pilots have launched industrial action in an ongoing dispute with the airline over pay.
Members of the Irish Air Line Pilots Association (IALPA) began the indefinite work process at midnight on Wednesday.
An eight-hour strike is scheduled for Saturday.
Hundreds of flights cancelled
The airline said it was disappointed that the Labor Court had not intervened in the dispute but would instead review the matter in July.
“Aer Lingus will continue to focus on minimizing the disruption to customers caused by IALPA’s industrial action,” she said in a statement to Irish radio RTÉ.
The airline said it had “made clear that it remains available for discussions directly and through the state’s industrial relations framework.”
Aer Lingus said the total number of flights canceled as a result of the industrial action has now risen to 270.
All regional Aer Lingus flights, operated by Emerald Airlines, and Aer Lingus UK transatlantic flights to and from Manchester will operate as scheduled.
It called on IALPA to “consider the harm its continued industrial action is causing to passengers, the company and the Irish economy”.
The full list of canceled flights through July 2 can be found on the airline’s website.
“The nature of this industrial action may lead to further cancellations and delays and we will contact affected customers directly as soon as possible,” it said.
Speaking to BBC News IR, Chairman of the Northern Ireland Airport Staff Association Captain Mark Teague said the action was now in place because Aer Lingus management “refused to see the reasonableness of our demand for an inflationary pay rise”.
IALPA is seeking a 24% pay increase.
Captain Tighe said the “acceptable offer” would mark the end of industrial action.
He added: “The company has refused to see its wisdom and common sense in keeping its employees’ salaries in line with inflation.
He added: “We are not looking to increase our salaries, but rather to maintain our income.”
“It is not unreasonable for employees to want to protect their paychecks.”
He said the work on the ruling includes “some added artificial elements.”
“Basically, pilots who had always been very flexible in making sure planes got home in delays, coming back on days off — some pilots did that, most didn’t because of work-life balance — but as that was taken away, the flexibility went away.”
Captain Tighe said people should realize that only a small number of pilots give up their vacation days to work.
He added, “For the company to turn around and say that it is canceling up to 20% of its flights because of this means that it is suffering from a major shortage of pilots, and it has a problem that it is not prepared to address.”
On Tuesday, prominent political figures in the Republic of Ireland called for a solution.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has called on Aer Lingus and IALPA to “engage extensively” in the employment tribunal to avoid “absolute chaos” for air passengers.
He urged the two sides to “deeply investigate,” calling for “settlement, participation, and sitting around a table.”
Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) Micheal Martin meanwhile said there was an “urgent need” to find a solution.
He added that the public was ignored by both sides of the conflict.
“It is astonishing that they have been ignored, deliberately set aside, if you will, in this battle between Aer Lingus management and the unions,” Martin said.
What do I do if my Aer Lingus flight is cancelled?
Passengers who booked their flights between June 26 and July 2 have a number of options available, the airline said.
Each of them should be contacted via email, SMS, or through their travel agent.
For customers who book directly with Aer Lingus, there is the option to change their flights online.
The company said it will waive the price difference and any change fees if you rebook at a later date.
There is also the option to request a full refund or a refund voucher, which can be redeemed within five years.
Aer Lingus said passengers who booked through a travel agent or third party should contact these companies directly.
“Unfortunately, Aer Lingus is unable to assist directly in these cases,” Aer Lingus explains on its website.
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