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AER LINGUS PASSENGERS could face disruption next month as SIPTU discusses strike action following the breakdown of talks last night about the €748 million deficit in the airline’s pension scheme.
The union which represents Aer Lingus employees is set to meet today to discuss possible strike action which could take place early next month.
Discussions about solutions for filling the hole in the pension scheme between unions and airline management were adjourned indefinitely by the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) yesterday.
Speaking on Newstalk Breakfast this morning SIPTU spokesperson Dermot O’Loughlin said industrial action is now “inevitable” and action by workers is likely to take place in early November.
“One choice [for employees] is to roll over and lose everything they’ve saved or try and see if they can bring this company who has nearly €1 billion in cash reserves to put some realistic funds towards resolving this issue,” he said.
In a statement yesterday Aer Lingus said it was “disappointed at the lack of progress” in the Labour Relation Commission.
“Aer Lingus believes that today’s discussions have been overshadowed and hampered by an interpretation by union groups that a proposal targeting “85 per cent of final incomes” has been agreed with the DAA,” it said.
However the airline said it has been confirmed by the DAA that the proposal under discussion with union groups does not target any such pension coverage level.
Commenting on the possibility of industrial action by workers represented by SIPTU, a spokesperson for Aer Lingus told TheJournal.ie, “We don’t anticipate any disruption to the schedule but if we become aware of a disruption we will be sure to update customers.”
Aer Lingus said it remains available to resume discussions with the union groups “in order to reach a solution and believes that the LRC is the appropriate forum in which to achieve this solution”.
When contacted by TheJournal.ie, Dublin Airport Authority declined to comment on the talks or the possibility of strike action within Aer Lingus.
The DAA is still currently in talks with unions about issues surrounding the pension scheme.
Aer Lingus has previously warned that employees could receive as little as 4 per cent of their expected pension benefits if they did not accept a deal, given the size of the deficit in the pensions scheme.
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Been living in Port Laoise for 20 years and still can’t find the beach
@Pro gamer Jack: What beach? There isn’t one?
@Pro gamer Jack: I suppose it has the blue flags, though, on and off.
@Pro gamer Jack:when you serve your sentence and your released you will have all the time in the world to find it.
@Pro gamer Jack: Twenty one years is a mighty long time as the song says!!!
@Pro gamer Jack: keep looking, it’s there somewhere.
Waterford – Tramore Yes – just bring on the Airport ! Great city
@D: And people will fly to Lanzarotte!
@If you’re: for half the price ..
The Seapoint one is nonsense. Poo in the water (fact, not an ask).
@Wendy Arbour aka Luas Vuitton – Dub Drag Queen: Got to agree. Something odd with the beaches listed. Disappointing low number in North Dublin. The Forty Foot always seems cleaner than Seapoint to me.
@MTM2000: True. But the poo is there too. People need to realise that the test is for ecoli in poo,not for poo. They’re swimming in poo. Might as well paddle in their own jacks before its flushed. No ecoli there either.
The sea side of Rush used to be beautiful, it was the family go to spot during the summer months growing up, hopefully it’s still as beautiful as it is in my memories.
Ireland has the best seas, only for the toughest people though
Mullaghroe isn’t by the sea. So fair play to them for the blue flag. Lol
@Tony: Mullaghroe beach is in Mayo. They have the wrong county.
Clontarf boating slip ‘ check Dublin City county 2022 assessment, water not good . If you continue at least pour couple of liters of disinfectant from head to toe after swim .
Very nice people those swimmers . I speak from experience swam in balscadden bay howth too late when I discovered sewer outlet . Still paying the price
⚠️It’s also a busy boating area , and the odd irresponsible swimmer out amongst racing yachts and dinghy’s , little turnip sizes heads except to be seen .
Why isn’t clones beach south of arklow a blue flag beach. The new poop processing plant in arklow is up and running so no more untreated waste water into the sea anymore.
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson:
Ringsend have a similar plant that regularly over flowed , clones lovely spot deserves protection
@Mr “JonnieBoy” Johnson:
Just Googled clones sea water , excellent tested over 4 yrs . Keep pushing them Jonnie boy or stick up a blue Dublin flag
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