Aer Lingus cabin crew have voted by 97% to take industrial action if the airline fails to implement revised rosters for short-haul services and acceptable time off arrangements after long-haul flights.

The ballot also sanctions action if there are further management breaches of agreements or if the company fails to implement an outstanding Labour Court recommendation on supervisors’ contracts.

Cabin crew can currently work up to 60 hours in a seven day period with six working days followed by one rest day before starting again on a six-day work roster. IMPACT Official Michael Landers said they can be rostered to work any day. “They get eight days off in 28, but might be rostered to work five with two off, or six days with one off,” he said.

Cabin crew describe the roster patterns as ‘erratic’ and they are subject to changes at short notice. As a result, many are struggling to maintain caring arrangements for when they are on duty. Cabin crew have also reported incidences of extreme fatigue among crew, necessitating medical attention.

A second ballot backed action to achieve agreement on the dispute with Aer Lingus on the Irish Airlines Superannuation Scheme (IASS).

Responding to criticism by the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport, Leo Varadkar, who said he was “sick” of strike threats at the airline, Mr Landers said "We are sick of having to take strike action and would far prefer to do our business in a different way. Nobody wants to be on strike. We should be able to do our business with the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court, but the problem is Aer Lingus won't engage in that process.

“The company did engage at the Labour Relations Commission to a point, but on four separate occasions refused to allow the Court make a recommendation. This is not the ideal way to do business but the solution is in Aer Lingus's hands, not ours,” he said.

Shareholders approve CEO pay deal

Shareholders voted by a very narrow margin of 50.03% to approve the generous pay, pension and bonuses package awarded to Aer Lingus CEO Christoph Mueller at the company’s annual general meeting last week. The Government, which holds a 25% stake in the airline, voted against the remuneration following a request by IMPACT. The union described the pay deal as an “insult” to staff at the airline. Ahead of the vote by shareholders, IMPACT was invited to comment on RTE’s News at One programme and on Today FM’s The Last Word (from 5m50sec).