The threat of industrial action at Aer Lingus has intensified today, after negotiations between the airline and its main unions to resolve pension deficit issues collapsed.
According to the Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU), talks broke down at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) aimed at resolving the pensions crisis at Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority (DAA). The current pension deficit for the Aer Lingus pension scheme is around €750m and unions have argued that the airline is not doing enough to support the funding of the scheme and is altering contribution levels for different sets of workers.
SIPTU organiser Dermot O’Loughlin commented: “It is disappointing that there has been no progress in the discussions to resolve the crisis which threatens thousands of employees with financial ruin in their retirement years. The intransigence of Aer Lingus is particularly disturbing as the airline is responsible for its failure to properly fund the pension scheme over many years.
“At the same time, the company has made generous pension contributions for a small number of elite staff which are ten times greater than those made for employees at lower grades. Aer Lingus has cash reserves of €1bn and could resolve this issue if it had the will to do so. Unlike the DAA, it has refused to engage in meaningful discussions at the Labour Court or LRC over recent weeks. Our members and Congress representatives are left with no choice but to meet on Tuesday (30 October) to consider the appropriate forms of industrial or other action necessary to bring this dispute over the pension deficit to a satisfactory conclusion.”
In a statement, Aer Lingus stated that it was continuing to seek a “fair outcome” that “would improve the pension prospects of affected IASS members in a way that will balance the interests of all parties.”
|
