Aer Lingus unions gather to discuss impact of pilots' pay rise

Ellen O'Donoghue

Trade unions representing Aer Lingus staff other than pilots are to meet on Thursday to discuss the implications of the recent pay increase awarded to pilots.

Siptu, Fórsa, Connect and Unite will hold talks to discuss the pay rise for pilots of 17.75% over four years.

Siptu and Fórsa agreed pay rises of 12 per cent with Aer Lingus in recent years, but the deals include a clause where they can go back to the airline if another group of workers secures a better deal.

The unions represent ground staff, technicians, caterers and cleaners.

Business journalist Joe Lynam told Newstalk the implications for Aer Lingus could be huge.

“They could demand extra pay because the pilots got extra pay and that could be in breach of a wider agreement that if the pilots get extra pay. It would reopen deals that were done with the previous unions, it could be a very messy few weeks for Aer Lingus,” Mr Lynam said.

In July, Aer Lingus pilots voted to accept a pay increase recommended by the Labour Court in a move that ended a bitter industrial dispute that forced the cancellation of hundreds of flights.

Members of the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) backed a 17.75 per cent increase by a sizeable majority, with 85 per cent of those returning ballots in favour.

Hundreds of flights were cancelled after the pilots' industrial action began on June 26th, impacting thousands of customers.