Dublin, Ireland – Aer Lingus pilots are set to engage in industrial action on June 26, resulting in inevitable flight cancellations if the planned strike proceeds, the airline has announced. The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) has served notice of an indefinite work-to-rule starting next week as part of an ongoing dispute over pay. This decision followed a resounding 99% vote in favor of action, including the possibility of a strike by IALPA members.
Aer Lingus’s chief corporate affairs officer, Donal Moriarty, stated in an interview with Irish broadcaster RTÉ that the impact of the upcoming industrial action will be significant. He highlighted the potential for increasing cancellations as the work-to-rule progresses, emphasizing the negative impact it will have on customers. Moriarty urged IALPA members to engage with the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to find a resolution, a step they have thus far refused to take.
The dispute stems from the rejection by IALPA members of a recommendation from the Labour Court for a pay increase totaling 9.25%, significantly lower than the 23.8% sought by the pilots. Aer Lingus has criticized the proposed increase as unreasonable, given the current economic circumstances. The pilots argue that previous pay offers have not taken into account inflation, Aer Lingus’s profits, and the sacrifices made by pilots during the Covid-19 pandemic to keep the airline operational.
Captain Mark Tighe, president of IALPA, emphasized the pilots’ determination not to back down, urging Aer Lingus management to recognize the strength of their position. With no resolution in sight, the ongoing dispute threatens to disrupt operations at Aer Lingus and inconvenience passengers. As negotiations remain deadlocked, the possibility of escalating the industrial action looms, further complicating the situation for all parties involved.