05/11/2013
Concerns Raised Over Threatened Aer Lingus Strike
Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Transport and Tourism, Timmy Dooley TD, has voiced his concern at the news that 91% of IMPACT cabin crew members at Aer Lingus voted in favour of industrial action.
Deputy Dooley said: "There is a very serious development and the resounding nature of the decision to participate in industrial action must surely be a wake-up call to management at Aer Lingus.
"It is obvious that the cabin crew are deeply unhappy with working conditions at the airline, they believe there have been significant breaches of existing agreements. Unfortunately this seems to be an annual occurrence and it is disappointing that Aer Lingus staff have to again resort to threats of strike action to have their concerns addressed.
"The Government has a significant shareholding in Aer Lingus and it needs to formulate and communicate a coherent policy position on this latest dispute.
"Minister Leo Varadkar needs to make it very clear to the Government's three nominees on the board of Aer Lingus how damaging any industrial unrest at Aer Lingus would be to the business and tourism interests in this country.
"A strike by Aer Lingus cabin crew could cause significant damage to the tourism industry while there would be a huge knock-on effect to the economy as well. We are heading into the busy Christmas period and a November strike by Aer Lingus could affect passenger numbers returning home for Christmas. The vital economic lift the Christmas period gives cannot be put under threat.
"This is a matter of vital national importance and it is imperative a long-term solution is reached to avoid similar strikes in the future."
On Monday, the results of a ballot saw 91% of cabin crew at Aer Lingus vote in favour of industrial action. The strike action is said to have "been provoked by Aer Lingus management's attitude and behaviour on a wide range of issues, including the breach of existing agreements with staff, which have made the working lives of Aer Lingus cabin crew increasingly difficult in recent years," according to a statement by Impact.
(JP/IT)
Deputy Dooley said: "There is a very serious development and the resounding nature of the decision to participate in industrial action must surely be a wake-up call to management at Aer Lingus.
"It is obvious that the cabin crew are deeply unhappy with working conditions at the airline, they believe there have been significant breaches of existing agreements. Unfortunately this seems to be an annual occurrence and it is disappointing that Aer Lingus staff have to again resort to threats of strike action to have their concerns addressed.
"The Government has a significant shareholding in Aer Lingus and it needs to formulate and communicate a coherent policy position on this latest dispute.
"Minister Leo Varadkar needs to make it very clear to the Government's three nominees on the board of Aer Lingus how damaging any industrial unrest at Aer Lingus would be to the business and tourism interests in this country.
"A strike by Aer Lingus cabin crew could cause significant damage to the tourism industry while there would be a huge knock-on effect to the economy as well. We are heading into the busy Christmas period and a November strike by Aer Lingus could affect passenger numbers returning home for Christmas. The vital economic lift the Christmas period gives cannot be put under threat.
"This is a matter of vital national importance and it is imperative a long-term solution is reached to avoid similar strikes in the future."
On Monday, the results of a ballot saw 91% of cabin crew at Aer Lingus vote in favour of industrial action. The strike action is said to have "been provoked by Aer Lingus management's attitude and behaviour on a wide range of issues, including the breach of existing agreements with staff, which have made the working lives of Aer Lingus cabin crew increasingly difficult in recent years," according to a statement by Impact.
(JP/IT)
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