CityJet pilots protest offshoring
by Niall Shanahan
 
CityJet intends to exit examinership to fly 15 aircraft for SAS, as it did prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. But they won’t be flown by Irish-based pilots.
CityJet intends to exit examinership to fly 15 aircraft for SAS, as it did prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. But they won’t be flown by Irish-based pilots.

Dublin-based pilots at CityJet staged a protest at the airline’s offices in Swords this week. It came in response to the airline’s confirmation of the planned closure of its Dublin base, and its decision to hire pilots from outside Ireland to fill resulting job vacancies.

 

The company, which is currently in examinership, is effectively offshoring Dublin-based pilots’ work by resuming flights with Irish-registered aircraft while Dublin pilots remain grounded by temporary lay-offs.

 

The pilots, who are represented by Ialpa, a branch of Fórsa, said management had rejected proposals designed to keep some jobs at the Dublin base. They included:

  • Up to 50% pay cuts until April 2021
  • The termination of all terms and conditions to facilitate total flexibility
  • A training plan to move pilots from one aircraft to another, which pilots say is a cheaper option than redundancy.

Fórsa official Ian McDonnell said the union was told last week that majority of the 57 pilots would no longer be in jobs.

 

“A small number of them will have the option to relocate outside of Ireland if and when required. Otherwise they face redundancy along with their other pilot and cabin crew colleagues. This is despite some progress where a number of jobs were committed to remain in Dublin last week,” he said.

 

CityJet intends to exit examinership to fly 15 aircraft for SAS, as it did prior to the Covid-19 pandemic. But they won’t be flown by Irish-based pilots.

 

“Once the Dublin base closes, CityJet will have a shortage of pilots and will be required to commence hiring pilots immediately. We’ve been informed that these new pilot jobs will be located outside the state,” said Ian.

 

Ian said the pilots had worked incredibly hard to develop alternatives to redundancy, which were designed to reduce costs and maintain some jobs in Dublin.

 

Separately, CityJet cabin crew have been told they’re no longer required. Fórsa official Ashley Connolly said there had been no meaningful engagement on the issue.

 

“The company has availed of Irish taxpayers’ money and the Irish courts as part of the examinership process. But it has abandoned a group of staff in Dublin which the company has described as ‘loyal, flexible and productive’.

 

“CityJet will continue to fly Irish-registered aircraft, but will turn its back on the people who helped to build the business here,” she said.

 

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