Aer Lingus pilots have initiated strike action as part of their disagreement with the Irish airline over salary.
Irish Air Line Pilots Association (IALPA) members will go on strike for eight hours on Saturday, June 29, extending their indefinite work-to-rule that started at midnight on Wednesday, June 26.
Industrial Action Comes After Failed Negotiations
The industrial action comes after separate discussions this week at the Labour Court in Dublin involving the IALPA and Aer Lingus, which did not conclude the negotiations. Reportedly, the union is requesting a salary increase of 24%.
In a BBC News report, Aer Lingus expressed disappointment that the Labour Court chose to wait until July to consider the case instead of intervening in the dispute. Nevertheless, the airline told RTE to keep working to ensure that IALPA's industrial action has as little impact as possible on its customers.
Ireland's flag carrier said it is willing to engage in conversations either one-on-one or through the State's industrial relations system.
According to Aer Lingus, the ongoing industrial action has resulted in 270 flights being canceled. It urged IALPA to consider how its ongoing strike hurts customers, the business, and the Irish economy.
Airline Reportedly Rejects Pilots' Inflationary Salary Claim
On the other hand, IALPA President Captain Mark Tighe told BBC News that the strike had begun because upper management at Aer Lingus refused to acknowledge the validity of the union's accumulative inflationary wage claim. He said an acceptable offer would put a stop to the industrial action.
According to him, the corporation has flat-out denied that it would be wise to maintain employee pay in line with inflation. He pointed out that the move is not about increasing their wages but rather about maintaining their income level, considering the inflation.
Tighe also mentioned that a tiny percentage of pilots choose to work on their days off. He said that the company's decision to cancel up to 20% of flights was a clear indication that they were short on pilots, which he deemed a problem the airline is unwilling to address.
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