Fórsa and other unions are in discussions with Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) management on three important matters, with talks expected to run into the New Year, according to official Johnny Fox.

Negotiations are underway on a new collective agreement to replace the current deal, which expires at the end of 2019. The union is working towards a comprehensive five-year agreement covering pay and working conditions.

According to Johnny, the unusual length of the proposed agreement is down to the need to align with the five-year European regulatory cycle, in which the European Commission effectively determines the budgets from which pay and other expenditure comes.

Separately, the union is in talks on six pension issues that are in dispute, including Fórsa’s claim to replace a hybrid pension scheme introduced by IAA management without agreement. Unions are also seeking the restoration of annual pension increases and the implementation of EU regulations on the recoupment of pension costs.

These issues have been referred to the company’s three-person internal dispute resolution board, which includes former IMPACT general secretary Peter McLoone.

Finally, discussions are also in train on an industrial relations agreement for staff in the new aviation regulatory body which, under Government proposals, is to be established by an amalgamation of the IAA’s regulatory functions with the Commission for Aviation Regulation.

Unions want to ensure there is no disimprovement in pay and conditions when the switch occurs. The union understands that legislation to establish the new regulatory body is now unlikely to be in place by the Government’s target deadline of January 2020.