AER LINGUS’ SCHEDULE IS BEING affected by a dispute over controversial new staff rosters introduced today, with two Boston flights cancelled this afternoon.

A flight from Dublin to Boston due to leave at 2pm and another flight due to depart Boston for Dublin at 6.15pm have been cancelled after cabin crew refused to work the new rosters.

The airline says that passengers will be accommodated on other routes or later flights, and any bookings made on their website can be changed for free online. Affected passengers can contact them on 1800 474 7424 for further information and assistance.

An Aer Lingus spokesperson told the Irish Times that although other crew had refused to operate the rosters, those flights had gone ahead.

Around 800 cabin crew members are engaged in a work-to-rule again with the airline over the rosters. Aer Lingus had warned staff last week that continued refusal to operate the new rosters was a breach of their contracts and could see them being put off duty and off pay.

RTÉ reports that staff have been engaged in a work-to-rule for 14 weeks now, and the IMPACT trade union said that the rosters could cause undue hardship to staff and exceed terms agreed earlier between staff and management. More flights may be affected.

IMPACT says some of its members have been invited to attend individual meetings with management to informally discuss their issues.