Aer Lingus industrial action: Thousands face travel misery as last-ditch talks fail

There is no certainty on the horizon as an indefinite work-to-rule from midnight last night could not be averted.

An eight-hour strike is set to ground more flights on Saturday.

Following “exploratory” talks between the airline and the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) yesterday, the ­Labour Court in Dublin found that no effort on its part would help end the row over pilots’ pay at this point.

It decided there was no reasonable prospect of a suspension of the planned industrial action.

'The actions continue until there's a resolution' - head of pilots' union says no breakthrough in dispute with Aer Lingus yet

The court asked Ialpa and the airline not to further ramp up the dispute before it gives a planned update on the state of play between the parties on July 1.

However, it is understood Ialpa did not give a commitment.

Passengers are now fearful of further strike announcements.

A message sent to members of Ialpa yesterday, seen by the Irish ­Independent, informs them it had received ­correspondence from the court.

It said the court advised “that they will not intervene in the dispute at this time, however they will review in July”.

The message says the industrial action due to take place today will go ahead as planned.

“Instructions will be issued to members by Ialpa at 00:01 on the 26th of June 2024,” it says.​

The union told members it wrote to Aer Lingus on June 23 requesting that it schedule talks for both parties to recommence negotiations.

“Ialpa has not received a response to date,” it said.

The cancellation of a further 50 flights, on July 1 and 2, was announced yesterday. They add to the 200-plus cancellations already announced by the airline.

The airline and Ialpa, a branch of the Fórsa trade union, have been involved in a heated exchange of words in recent days, with each accusing the other of not engaging.

Dónal Moriarty Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer speaking after talks with WRC

The pilots are seeking a pay increase of 24pc, which they say equates to inflation since the last pay rise in 2019.

Aer Lingus has said it is willing to offer pay increases of 12.5pc or above if “improvements in productivity and flexibility” are discussed.

Both sides agreed to attend separate meetings at the Labour Court in Dublin yesterday to provide briefings on the industrial stand-off.

After talks failed, Aer Lingus said it was “disappointed” the Labour Court had assessed that it could not currently assist to bridge the gap between the sides.

“Aer Lingus has made it clear that it remains available for discussions both directly and through the State’s industrial relations framework,” the airline’s statement added.

“Aer Lingus will continue to focus on minimising the disruption caused to customers by Ialpa’s industrial action.

“Aer Lingus is calling upon Fórsa/Ialpa to consider the damage that its continued industrial action is inflicting upon passengers, the company and the Irish economy.”

Emerging from the court, Ialpa president Mark Tighe made clear the action would proceed.

“The actions continue as they are notified and will continue until there is a resolution,” he said.

Taoiseach Simon Harris has asked both sides to “dig deep” in an attempt to come to a resolution.

Mr Harris said it was “absolutely vital” that both sides engage in talks to find a resolution.

“My challenge to the parties now is to bring that engagement forward, rather than putting people through a prolonged period of agony and chaos, and then engaging in the end anyway,” he said.

“This dispute will be settled the same way every dispute is settled: compromise, engagement, sitting around a table. That’s what needs to happen.”

He said there would be “very little sympathy” for anybody involved in cancelling family holidays and disrupting the tourism sector if they are not engaging “intensively”.

Tánaiste Micheál Martin said the proposed industrial action has caused “anxiety and stress” for thousands and thousands of people.

“I think there’s an urgent necessity now to resolve this, and to bring some peace of mind to people who’ve been planning all year to go on their holidays,” he said.

The 200-plus cancellations announced before yesterday affected 35,000 passengers.

Aer Lingus said the further 50 flight cancellations for next Monday and Tuesday were required to “protect as many services as possible” from the planned industrial action.

The airline said that passengers due to travel between today and Tuesday, July 2, will continue to be given the option to change their flights for free, or to cancel their flight and claim a refund or voucher.

“Aer Lingus fully understands the anxiety being experienced by customers given the uncertainty caused by Ialpa’s industrial action and is giving customers as many options as possible, should they wish to change their plans,” it added.