Aer Lingus staff are due to get the first part of their €1700 recognition payment within this fortnight.

The pay award which was offered by the employer as an incentive to start talks imminently was accepted by 95% of Fórsa members that were balloted.

The payment was awarded to flight staff, cabin crew and all ground staff to honour their patience and commitment as the aviation industry coped with the effects of the pandemic.

The measures balloted on, and agreed to, also include a partial reversal of a cut to commission, and an earlier end to a pay freeze, in addition to the once-off payment of €1,700 for those in employment with the airline pre- January 2022, with pro-rata payments for those employed after that date.

Fórsa said the timing and manner of the payment was of priority to the union.

The union said members will get the €1000 now and the remaining balance of €700 would be paid next year. Fórsa is also seeking clarification in relation to the tax rules around the payment for 2023.

Fórsa official Eugene Gargan explained the discussion with the employer was productive and it ensured the rollout of the payment would happen in the most tax-efficient way possible.

“Aer Lingus also made concessions on the loss of commission issue,” he added.

Some of the cabin crew had enjoyed a commission rate of 12% previously, but that had been reduced. This was finally restored back up to 10% following negotiations to bring it up to the industry norm.

Eugene said there was also a mechanism in place now to address the loss of commission for those cabin crew who had been on the higher 12% rate.

“It makes a calculation on approximately how much extra commission would have been earned by those who were entitled to it, so it was great to see the employer concede to this commission part as well,” Eugene said.

These arrangements are due to be in place until, or unless, an agreement in the ongoing pay talks superseded it.

Fórsa said the sterling equivalent would also be available to cabin crew based in Belfast. But the union said there was some disappointment as there was no mechanism in UK’s tax law to allow for tax repayment to be made, so the payment being taxed was simply unavoidable. The payment works out at about £1500 for staff in Belfast.

Eugene said Fórsa representatives were also in discussion with the employer to allow greater flexibility around this particular aspect of the payment to avoid disappointment for staff on the taxed portion.

“The company accepted our proposal to use a prepaid credit card that is widely accepted internationally. They are working to develop that for all at this stage, and final details are expected soon,” he said.

This would mean staff would get €1000 now on the card, if rolled out successfully by the employer.

Eugene said these pay awards were a recognition by the employer of both the cost living crisis and the loyalty and hard work that's been always shown by the cabin crew throughout the pandemic. But he said the payment was also a welcome indication by the employer as a requirement to have a serious look at pay in the forthcoming discussions.