The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) have issued formal notice to Aer Lingus management informing them that pilots will begin industrial action at a minute past midnight on Wednesday 26th June.

The work to rule will last indefinitely. Pilots in Aer Lingus have twice voted in favour of taking industrial action over the past two weeks. In both ballots pilots voted overwhelmingly for strike action. 

In an initial electronic ballot members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) voted 98% in favour of taking industrial action up to and including full withdrawal of labour. Turnout for the ballot was 98%.  

However, Aer Lingus then raised concerns about the electronic ballot. Though IALPA confirmed that the union rule book allows for the provision of electronic ballots and that concerns raised by Aer Lingus were unfounded, a paper ballot was held last weekend to avoid unnecessary litigation leading to prolonged uncertainty.

In the second ballot turnout was 89% and 99% voted in favour of taking industrial action up to and including full withdrawal of labour. 

IALPA President Captain Mark Tighe said: “We are now at a point where this dispute has escalated to indefinite industrial action by pilots."

“We are in this position because management have failed to provide us with a meaningful offer on pay that accounts for inflation and the sacrifices made by pilots to save Aer Lingus during the pandemic.”

IALPA’s industrial action will involve a strict work to rule, which includes not working overtime, or any other out of hours duties requested by management.

Captain Tighe added: “Management keep insisting that pilots must sell their working conditions in exchange for any increase in pay. We are absolutely not prepared to do that, especially when Aer Lingus is making enormous profits.

“Our pay claim is for 24%, which equates to inflation since our last pay rise in 2019. Aer Lingus have increased their profits by 400% to €255 million last year.

“Our pay claim is entirely affordable for the company. Our colleagues in British Airways secured a 24% increase in 2019, while Lufthansa pilots received a 27% increase,” he said.

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