Deal At Aer Lingus Ends Strike Threat

The threat of strike action from Aer Lingus staff has been called off after a last minute deal was hammered out between the union chiefs and management.

Workers union Siptu and Aer Lingus resolved the contentious outsourcing plans by the airline, which would have resulted in the loss of 1,500 jobs, at crucial talks staged at the Labour Relations Commission.

Aer Lingus said a framework had been arrived at to deliver savings of €50million euro without any outsourcing.

A spokesman for the union said: "An alternative proposal to outsourcing has been developed between SIPTU and Aer Lingus management in talks held under the auspices of the Labour Relations Commission. SIPTU will be consulting with members in advance of any ballot, commencing with meetings next Monday and Tuesday."

The trade union Siptu voted last month to take strike action due to begin next Monday and will consult members about the latest proposals next week.

The aim is to complete the process before December 4, and although there will be no industrial or strike action commenced during the process, management have maintained that if its members reject the proposal the Union mandate remains live and strike action may still go ahead if the company proceeds with outsourcing.

The airline had initially planned to outsource ground operations, shut bases in Shannon and Heathrow and use US crews on some long-haul routes.

(DW)