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Updated 10.12pm
CABIN CREW AT Aer Lingus have voted in favour of industrial action today by a margin of 91 per cent.
Trade union IMPACT said today its ballot was “provoked by Aer Lingus management’s attitude and behaviour on a wide range of issues, including the breach of existing agreements with staff, which have made the working lives of Aer Lingus cabin crew increasingly difficult in recent years”.
Issues mentioned on the ballot paper included last minute changes to rosters and “excessive shifts” forced on cabin crew by management. It also refers to breaches of agreements previously made through negotiations, like the use of a Belfast crew in one instance on services out of Dublin.
The union said management is unwilling to address of resolve concerns on these issues through normal industrial relations channels.
The decision to ballot was made immediately prior to a recent decision by Aer Lingus management to outsource cabin crew on transatlantic flights, announcing the closure of the cabin crew base at Shannon Airport with the loss of 87 jobs.
IMPACT said the company has written to the union in recent days issuing notice of collective voluntary redundancies for cabin crew at the Shannon base.
“This is the latest in a succession of ultimatums and unnecessary coercive actions by Aer Lingus management which are designed to bully its staff into submission,” it said.
The industrial action voted on today includes strike action, if necessary. The branch committee of the union will now meet over the next few days to consider the appropriate course of action and a spokesperson said much of this will depend on the response from management.
They said the relationship between staff and management has become “toxic” because of the company’s “withdrawal from the usual industrial relations process”.
“If there’s no engagement from management, the likelihood of industrial action will grow,” they added.
A spokesperson for Aer Lingus said: “We have not received notice of industrial action. No further comment to make at this point in time”.
First published 3.58pm
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Please please please don’t strike in the days before Christmas! The fear of not getting home because of snow or strike is terrible!
Lots of negativity towards Aer Lingus. I’m not a frequent flyer but always found their staff more friendly and helpful compared to other Airlines. If a group of people are not happy about their working conditions they are entitled to do something about it. Lots of sensational comments posted with very few facts. The most vunerable people are always the most targeted.
That’s all very well in certain cases but the fact remains that if Aer Lingus hadn’t been perked up by the state over the years and we’re a private airline they’d have gone bust a long time ago and there would be NO WORKERS
So they should be grateful and put up with everything????? Good god!
Yeah sure, the fact that it’s one of the top 3 short haul carries in Europe and a masively profitable company is ignored there.
I love all the posts as if they’re facts, cabin crew last went on strike nearly 10 years ago, 3 years ago the company suspended the cabin crew for issues such as wanting to have a 30 minute break during a 10 hour day. Love or hate unions when a company decides to ignore their own staff, refuses to engage in any kind of discussions for nearly 2 years while pushing through more and more conditions that have a huge negative impact on staff something has to be done.mThe company has made close to 200 million in profits over the last 3 years and anticipates around another 50m this year, a lot of which has been gained by staff cuts, changes to working conditions, pay freezes/cuts etc over the last 3 or 4 years. They’re are many ways a lot of issues could be resolved if genuine dialogue was engaged between all parties but when the company insists it’s their way or nothing, how are staff supposed to react.
How are staff supposed to react..???..Nice to have the choice….If I go on strike Dave I loose my job..!!!
And this is why i dont fly Aer lingus. While I agree with the staff in principle, it’s just too risky to book and Aer Lingus flight considering how often they strike
Unions have ruined aer lingus
When was the last time they pulled few plug?
I’m not defending either way but I just don’t remember them going on strike.
Btw. Reporter is cute!
I’m not sure I agree with them in principle. Am I right in saying Aer Lingus are starting to fly small planes to the US but the cabin crew want to keep the same staffing levels?
They never actually strike. The unions just continually threaten to strike.
Cooperguy
Yes you are totally correct. For years the tail has wagged the dog in this Company and it was also a plaything of Fianna Fail in terms of its access to cosy jobs for its members up to and including the Board. The first decent Chief Executive was Willie Walsh and Bertie Aherne publicly slandered him as he tried to grapple with the abusive control the Unions had in the place.
The staff still believe they can do as they want and the State will bail them out but the real problem for any airline is not an actual strike but the threat of it and this results in other choices being made on a permanent basis by the flying public.
On this occasion we need to lance a boil and we should allow the staff,to strike and the Union to be bankrupted. They already are both intellectually and morally as it stands and that goes for its members as much as it does for it’s Executive.
It’s actually just way too expensive. Was on their site earlier looking to book a flight to Edinburgh for tomorrow. €266 + add ons for a one way ticket. Eventually booked with Ryanair €63 all in. Scandalous
Last time they went on strike was 10 years ago. Lol…I wouldn’t call that often
Bail them out from what?? I’m sure last I heard Aer Lingus were making a profit
January 2011 actually, in relation to new rosters
I’m flying to New York on Friday…pllllease no strike action before then! While I’m over there, go right ahead :)
They have to give 1 weeks notice to the employer of their intention to strike after holding a ballot of members afaik
I am flying with them to NY too this week. I did get stuck in Germany before over action, wouldn’t mind being stuck in NY for longer too!
I’m a fairly frequent flyer, and I always fly Aer Lingus. They have the best staff ever, so if they are not happy, something is wrong. I support you guys!
I’m going to guess the reason they have voted yes is because their contracts are not been honoured wether or not they signed them willy nilly. No vested interest I just support the ordinary working man/women. I also believe in people before profit. A fair wage for a fair days work. If the company is earning such huge profits regardless of what other airlines are making perhaps they should reward their workers. The average worker in this country has suffered enough hardship .
Union officials truly are the dregs of society
No that’s IBEC and their self serving minions you’re thinking of!
Why Mark? I’m sure you’ve plenty of well thought out, thought provoking arguments to back up that statement.
I don’t understand the mentality of Aer Lingus cabin crew. They own a huge chunk of the airline they work for and surely see the impact of these threatened strikes on the company.
I would, if at all possible, avoid flying Aer Lingus (or indeed any other airline whose staff behave in a similar way) simply because of the risk of industrial action/ strike and the hassle caused if they do strike.
What is it exactly that they want? Given the length of service of many would it be wrong to assume they’re gunning for redundancy? Presumable they’d be in line for a hefty payout.
And why is it always cabin crew? Of course someone will tell me that they’re highly trained for safety/emergency situations etc… but they are essentially glorified service staff. The attitudes of the Aer Lingus staff in particular is like something from “Are you being served” where they look down their noses at the people who are, ultimately, keeping them in a job.
The airline industry has been hit massively by the economic downturn both in Ireland and the US and cost cutting is an absolute necessity in order to survive. Surely this is obvious to the AL cabin crew… especially given they are also shareholders.
The mind boggles.
Jilted or let down by an Aer Lingus cabin crew member.As an ex cabin crew member one can see through the comments.If you want service with a smile fly Fly Aer lingus if you want to get from A to B fly Ryan Air, provided you get from A to b if something goes wrong forget it !!!!!!!!!!!!
“the risk of industrial action/ strike and the hassle caused if they do strike.”
Aer Lingus employees haven’t struck in 10 years. Aer Lingus are not honouring their 2009 and 2011 agreements with their staff while refusing to even hold discussions with staff. So they are entirely correct in voting for industrial action.
Joan. I’m not sure what you mean by “Jilted or let down by an Aer Lingus cabin crew member”. I most certainly didn’t get “service with a smile” last time i few with Ryanair.
Also, there are many more Airlines other than Ryanair. However my experiences with Ryanair, Easyjet and Jet2 have all been perfectly fine. I got what I expected from them. If being better than Ryanair is what Aer Lingus aspire to they’ve probably succeeded by their level of service is far below that of BA or Virgin.
Additionally, what do you mean by “if something goes wrong”? I have had issues flying with many airlines, including Ryanair, which have been dealt with admirably by their staff.
Marc, they may well have not gone on strike in 10 years, but how often have they threatened to (which is what I said in my comment above)?
your very disrespectful and ill informed comments regarding Aer Lingus crew is very disturbing and wrong. cabin crew world wide are trained to very very high standards safety is the reason for cabin crew believe it or not so do yourself a favour inform yourself before you insult and disrespect over 1200 people they don’t ask for impossible things just a FAIR and safe place to work
Typical Aer Lingus bashing, not a single fact present in most of the anti-Aer Lingus posts here. Honestly some people would probably be in favour of a return to slavery the amount they bash workers left, right and centre.
Particularly love the “they strike all the time” comments when its been years since there was actually a strike at Aer Lingus but don’t let the facts get in the way of your hatred.
Typical selfish entitlement culture again. They need a kick in the arse. The company called their bluff and fair play to them for that. AL need to make changes to compete and the staff are a major stumbling block to that. Smaller planes means smaller crews. At least this way they can compete for more routes and create employment. The staff can’t see through their own selfishness though.
Less crews. Your faulty reasoning suggests the Aer Arann ATR’s are crewed by 8 midgets.
if people have to be made redundant because the company cant justify any longer the need or funding for them, then all the strikes in the world aint gonna solve that issue,,,,,,,,,
And of course the Aer Lingus staff commence their grievances in the period coming up to Xmas to dampen its customers spirits
Everyone bleats that something has to be done in the country, that people need to stand up to the government and employers, that is, until a group actually do it!!!
People are a joke spouting their rubbish about aerlingus employees and their lack of ability to write any fact based statements! I fully support the cabin crew, even though I have 2 flights booked with them over the next 6 weeks, and they are the only airline that fly to Dublin from here. Won’t be nice for the passengers who are going to be delayed, but it’s time people stood up!
I’d be slow to book Aer Lingus flights more than a month in advance, Ryanair are much more dependable
I pray for the day another airline flies direct to Chicago.
I’ll be glad to see the back of strike happy Aer Lingus.
Shannon during the summer is your only bet
Really?
What carrier goes from Shannon to Chicago in Summer??
Thanks
Eh.. American Airlines direct Dublin to Chicago?
American airlines do during the summer and united airlines do frm SNN also
American airlines fly to chicago. Im heading to phoenix nexr year and going this way via chicago.
Im wary of booking aer lingus long haul because they continually threaten to strike
Jesus wept more trade union belly aching and sabre rattling either stand up to the Government and their cronies in management by walking out and withdrawing your labour or shut up and take whats coming to you the choice is simple.
@larrylamb…. No one overnights within Europe these days , not even aer lingus! And the only reason we do overnights in the states is because of company scheduling and turnarounds. So please inform yourself correctly before commenting.
Re: crewing levels… The new aircraft is crewed across the industry by a minimum of 5 crew… Some airlines use 8. The union wanted to discuss the possibility of 5/6 crew, however the company said “4 crew or we’ll outsource it” I don’t mind hard work but 4 crew with 12 business and 150 economy on long haul is impossible!
It’s because of unions that I’d like to see the State sell their share in Aer Lingus. A privately-run airline just wouldn’t stand for this shit and sack the lot of them.
What’s wrong with workers standing up for themselves? The cabin crew staff are entitled to stand up for their pay and working conditions. These workers have mortgages/rent, children, bills etc to pay. The airline is making massive profit and failing to reward the staff who help make the company a success. Wonder what C muller jnr is paying himself for how well the company is doing ??
Do the workers have contracts? And, if so, what does it say in them re: wages, lunch breaks, uniforms, training, etc. Most people don’t even cast an eye over their contracts and sign them willy-nilly. Then they blame everyone but themselves when the employer changes something – while still well within the conditionsd of the contract.
Rob
Aer Lingus is it making sufficient profit for the airline to be self sustaining in terms of aircraft replacement. The staff have ensured that it is in the bottom tier of profitability for European Airlines over the past ten years.
What’s your vested interest?
Actually Richie, in 2012 Aer Lingus made more profit per aircraft than Ryanair. Aer Lingus along with Ryanair and Easyjet are the top 3 profitable shorthaul airlines in Europe. (Source is Aer Lingus 2012 Full Year results from last March)
As regards Martin’s questions: Aer Lingus are not honouring their 2009 and 2011 agreements with their staff while refusing to even hold discussions with staff.
Just ban the unions, the only action they take is always to hurt the Public first
Good old aer lingus high and mighty crew love to strike with their airs and graces and overnight stays- good for them hope they have a job this time next year. Last week at Dub airport the aer lingus check in clerk was chewing gum and looked like a right chav. No doubt she will be striking too lol
Yeah your right Larry so pampered with their overnights, the cheek of them. Expecting rest after a 10 hour flight, 12-13 hour work day. Could they not just kip in the plane or the airport gates after last flight has departed. That money wasted pampering this entitled shower could be profits for the shareholders which is obviously the most important thing. Shame on the unions and the 91% of the workers not letting the massive profit making company arrogantly renege on their deal as they take in profits of millions
Paul, if the conditions were as outrageous as you suggest, the routes would be uncrewable.
They weren’t, as evidenced by the willingness to crew them by the aircraft leasing company.
This started with IMPACT saying “our way of crewing or NO WAY OF CREWING!”. Airline called their bluff by outsourcing the work, IMPACT needs to save face by saying ” ITS ALL THEIR FAILT AND WERE GONNA STRIKE COS OF IT”
This all starts and ends with IMPACT.
Aer Lingus are not honouring their 2009 and 2011 agreements with their staff while refusing to even hold discussions with staff. So they are entirely correct in voting for industrial action.
Colm Flaherty and JakkiB, (a) it’s far from only over crewing which by the way 5 if not 6 is the industry norm not the 4 the company want. Cabin we’re NOT offered the scheme that the rest of the company got in relation to the lump sum for conditions! I also loved the earlier comment that 1000 cabin crew deserve everything they get because one of the ground staff looked like a Chav (can only assume she was wearing a burberry baseball cap with her nice green uniform)
Its times like this i wish the ryanair take over bid succeeded.
This headline must just be copied and pasted every few months…
Or every 10 years (ya know, the last time there was an Aer Lingus strike)
Emigrating to Oz Monday morning and my first flight is with aer lingus. Any chance they could strike by then?
Nope.
Thank god
I never fly tranatlantic with them over priced and lousy service let them strike willy walsh did well to be rid of them.
Looks like this post is full of union members lol the sort that favour strikes and the sort of people who never travel and know nothing about the impact of strikes on the economy the future of the airline and the irish population
Do tell us Larry… I’m interest in knowing your extensive airline industry knowledge…..
This the same staff that got big payouts to change their contracts a few years back??? Time they stood on their own and Government sold off their shares
The cabin crew never got a payout… It was the rest of the company who sold there terms and conditions
What they want now ? Poor crew a 5 star hotel after their tiring longhaul flight to milan? Oh dear me. Poor crew such a tiring job in the galley applying lippy all day looking important
You haven’t a clue what cabin crew actually do…
If you are going to comment (Larry lambe) firstly know what you are talking about and secondly why go under a false name.
Larry I’d imagine it would be very tiring standing on your feet all day long. Cabin crew have many challenges doing the job they do they all have gone through intensive training in first aid, fire safety and drills they must follow if they experience a catastrophic situation. They don’t just push a trolley up and down all day their most important job is the safety of others and if they can do that without a hair out of place and smile on their face I say fair play to them
Not a false name thanks laurence actually
The chewing gum kills. I will always challenge it.
This is a strike about pensions
This is a state owned company. It is clear aer lingus staff are oblivious to irelands dire economic status,
High unemployment some on the breadline and here they are whingeing about their pensions- its sickening and typical of aer lingus and its overpaid and overstaffed airline
The best road for staff & air lingus is appoint an arbitrary independent group to evaluate the position then decided the recommended points for each side to agree , this way they don’t affect the general public nor loss of competitiveness nor damage moral but give justification of non interference if causing a massive loss to both the company & staff . Try get into The 21 century with as little conflict as possible
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