Aer Lingus: Public ignored as flights canceled during strike

Updated 3 hours ago

The Tánaiste (Irish Deputy Prime Minister) has described the Aer Lingus pay dispute as “shocking”, adding that both sides are ignoring the needs of the Irish traveling public.

Thousands of passengers face uncertainty over the next week as pilots launch industrial action in a pay dispute.

At least 244 Aer Lingus flights have now been cancelled.

Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that Micheál Martin had appealed to the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) and Aer Lingus management to “work around” the existing interim recommendation from the Irish Labor Court.

Speaking in Luxembourg, where he is attending a meeting of EU foreign ministers, Mr Martin said: “I think it is shocking how much the needs of those who travel are being ignored in the context of this dispute in my view.

“There is only one way to resolve this, it is through negotiation and rounding the table.

He added that the “most effective way” to end the dispute would be to use the “industrial relations machinery at our disposal”.

Mr Martin said the employment tribunal made the recommendation to “set a basis for action”.

“I would appeal to both parties to go around the table and think of the many thousands of families and workers across the country.

“This is the only time of the year they have the opportunity to travel on vacation. They’ve planned for it, they’ve saved for it.”

IALPA president Captain Mark Tighe said the pilots had been forced to “escalate” the dispute because of “antagonism from Aer Lingus management”.

“Instead of meeting with IALPA for direct negotiations to resolve this dispute, the airline is sending letters to IALPA threatening to cut members’ terms by unilaterally terminating collective agreements.

“Aer Lingus lawyers have also written to every member of the IALPA executive this week, personally, threatening to take High Court proceedings for alleged illegal conduct in relation to the alleged increase in pilot sickness absence.”

IALPA added that “there is no effort to negotiate a settlement”.

“The range of predicted flight cancellations next week, as described by Aer Lingus, illustrates the extent to which the company relies on the flexibility and goodwill of pilots,” Captain Tighe said.

“As always, IALPA remains open to direct negotiations with Aer Lingus to settle this dispute in a way that fairly addresses pilot pay.”

However, in a statement, the airline said that Aer Lingus was “available for meaningful direct discussions with IALPA” but that the pilots’ union had “to date refused to enter into these meaningful discussions and ended the last direct discussions with the company on Monday.” June 17″.

They said that Aer Lingus had written to IALPA on Sunday 23 June asking for a discussion and that it had also asked the association to “re-engage with the industrial relations machinery of the state (the Labor Court and the Workplace Relations Commission) but at the moment they have refused that request”. .

Aer Lingus regional flights operated by Emerald Airlines between Belfast and the UK are unaffected by the IALPA strike action and will operate as scheduled.

The airline said passengers with flights booked between June 26 and July 2 have a number of options.

Everyone should be contacted via email or SMS or through a travel agent.

For customers who have booked directly with Aer Lingus, there is an option to change flights online. The company said it will waive the fare difference and any change fee if the booking is changed to a later date.

There is also the option to claim a full refund or a cashback voucher redeemable within five years.

Aer Lingus said passengers who booked through a travel agent or third party must contact those companies directly.

“Unfortunately, Aer Lingus is unable to directly assist in these cases,” Aer Lingus says on its website.