IALPA’s members at Emerald Airlines, which operates regional flights as Aer Lingus Regional, are balloting this week on an industrial relations agreement, following negotiations with the company.

Pilots engaged in industrial action during the summer months, in the form of a work-to-rule and a threatened stoppage during the August bank holiday, in response to the airline’s refusal to engage with the union.

The planned stoppage was suspended at the end of July to facilitate engagement with the company, which continued throughout August.

Fórsa and Emerald finalised an industrial relations agreement late last week. The new agreement requires ratification by a secret ballot of IALPA members at the airline. The ballot concludes later today, and the agreement has been recommended for acceptance.

Fórsa assistant general secretary Ian McDonnell said reaching agreement with Emerald marked a fresh and positive step toward better industrial relations at the airline: "If the agreement is accepted by members, the next challenge will be to successfully negotiate a collective agreement covering pilot pay and employment terms.

“The new industrial relations agreement commits the parties to that negotiation, and we look forward to proceeding with that process as soon as possible,” he said.