Fórsa members among Aer Lingus cabin crew have voted overwhelmingly to reject the airline’s December pay offer, with 98.1% voting against the proposal in a ballot that closed last Friday (9th January).

The decisive result underlines the depth of dissatisfaction among cabin crew with an offer they believe does not reflect the airline’s strong financial performance, nor their contribution to its ongoing commercial success.

Following the conclusion of the ballot, Fórsa has formally written to Aer Lingus this week seeking an urgent meeting to begin negotiations on a mutually agreeable 2026 pay agreement. The union will meet airline management in February.

In advance of the ballot, the Fórsa cabin crew branch made clear its strong belief that Aer Lingus has the ability to pay a fairer and improved offer, pointing to the airline’s reported €170 million profit in the third quarter of 2025. The union advised members that the offer put forward by management represented the minimum the company could have proposed, particularly given that cabin crew remain among the lower-paid groups within the organisation.

Commenting on the result Fórsa official, Lisa Connell, said the ballot outcome reflected members’ expectations of a more serious engagement on pay: “Cabin crew have delivered for Aer Lingus through its recovery in the last six years, and have helped deliver Aer Lingus into a period of strong profitability. Our members are clear that the company has the capacity to make a better offer, and they expect that capacity to be reflected at the negotiating table.”

The ballot also took place against the backdrop of Aer Lingus’s decision to proceed with a unilateral pay award while the ballot was still in progress. Fórsa said it was not surprised by the move but strongly criticised the approach, arguing that it undermines the integrity of ongoing pay negotiations and members’ right to vote on their pay.

Lisa added: “Management’s decision to implement payment without agreement undermines the current negotiations and shows a disregard for the collective bargaining process. Our members have sent a clear message that this approach is unacceptable.”
Fórsa has reiterated its commitment to constructive dialogue and confirmed that it remains available to meet management at the earliest opportunity to progress negotiations.

The union will continue to keep members informed of developments and will pursue all appropriate avenues to secure a fair and sustainable pay outcome for Aer Lingus cabin crew.

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