Union to meet Aer Lingus on redundancy proposals
by Bernard Harbor
 
Fórsa said the unequivocal cabin crew ballot result vindicated that branch’s decision to put the package to its members, but said company management had done everything it its power to antagonise its staff.
Fórsa said the unequivocal cabin crew ballot result vindicated that branch’s decision to put the package to its members, but said company management had done everything it its power to antagonise its staff.

Members of Fórsa’s cabin crew committee will meet Aer Lingus management today (Friday 26th June) in consultations about proposed cabin crew redundancies at the airline. A similar discussion is set to take place on behalf of grades represented by the union’s IAESA branch, which represents staff in middle-management roles.

 

The company announced last week that it would be seeking up to 500 redundancies across the company, with the largest number coming from flight staff. The airline is currently operating around 5% of its normal flight schedule because of Covid-19 restrictions.

 

The meeting comes a few days after cabin crew voted by 75% to 25% to reject proposals for sweeping changes to their working conditions, which could have put many staff members in significant debt to the company. The turnout in the postal ballot was 82%.

 

The proposals were presented to all staff except pilots as an ‘Aer Lingus recovery plan,’ which was an alternative to lay-offs and a further pay cut – down to 30% of normal wages – which are now being imposed.

 

The IAESA branch’s Aer Lingus section decided to accept the recovery plan without going to ballot.

 

Fórsa said the unequivocal cabin crew ballot result vindicated that branch’s decision to put the package to its members, but said company management had done everything it its power to antagonise its staff.

 

A Fórsa spokesperson said all the company’s employees understood the difficulties that Aer Lingus and the entire aviation industry is going through.

 

“They want to play their part in helping the airline through this period, but they are being treated with disdain by their management. The union’s Cabin Crew branch took the view that they could not accept the sweeping changes on behalf of cabin crew without a ballot. Cabin crew were fully appraised of the likely alternative to this package and the ballot result.

 

“The outcome of the cabin crew ballot – and the developments that have come to light since their ballot commenced last Monday (15th June) – demonstrate the need for a new approach from the company, and a new engagement between the airline and its unions,” he said.

 

It’s never been more important – or more easy – to get the protections and benefits of union membership. Join Fórsa HERE or contact the union HERE.

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