Aer Lingus pilots serve notice of intention to go on work to rule

Pilots at Aer Lingus have served noticed to the airline that they intend to go on an "indefinite" work to rule starting next week.

The notice was served on Tuesday afternoon, and informed Aer Lingus that the pilots' work to rule status would start on June 26 from midnight and would last "indefinitely".

It comes as Aer Lingus pilots voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay, which was announced on Monday.

Members of the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA), which represents hundreds of pilots at the airline, voted 99% in favour.

IALPA president Captain Mark Tighe said: "We are now at a point where this dispute has escalated to indefinite industrial action by pilots.

"We are in this position because management have failed to provide us with a meaningful offer on pay that accounts for inflation and the sacrifices made by pilots to save Aer Lingus during the pandemic."

IALPA's industrial action will involve no working overtime, or any other out of hours duties requested by management; only working the published rosters and not accepting or working any amendments to published rosters; not logging into the Aer Lingus portal or "e-crew" outside of work hours; as well as not answering phone calls outside of work hours.

In a statement, a spokesman for Aer Lingus said: ""IALPA's decision to serve notice of industrial action by Aer Lingus pilots was entirely unnecessary.

"Aer Lingus will assess the impact of the full detail of the industrial action served by IALPA, including the strict 'work to rule' that they have outlined.

"It will inevitably result in significant disruption to our customers and to other employees. Aer Lingus will do everything possible to minimise the disruption to customers, but unfortunately a significant level of disruption is inevitable.

"In advance of being served with the notice, Aer Lingus wrote to IALPA informing them that industrial action at this time of year would cause very significant disruption and have a devastating impact on customers and their families going into the summer holiday season.

"In that context, Aer Lingus asked IALPA that advance notice of at least 15 days be provided.

"Such a level of notice which has been a norm where industrial action has been taken internationally in other airlines, would provide Aer Lingus with more opportunity to try to make alternative arrangements for a greater number of customers.

"IALPA declined Aer Lingus' request to give advance notice of at least 15 days."

Earlier, Finance Minister Michael McGrath urged Aer Lingus management and unions to "get down around the table" for talks to avoid strikes.

He said discussions should take place as soon as possible to avoid travel chaos over the summer holiday season.

The airline has described the pilots' pay demands as unrealistic.

Speaking as he arrived for a cabinet meeting in Dublin, Mr McGrath said: "I would call on both Aer Lingus management and the union to get down around the table as quickly as possible and to have meaningful discussions to avoid industrial action.

"We're coming into a very important season now, where for many individuals and families this is the one opportunity in the year that they may have to get away.

"The earlier the discussions take place, and a settlement can be agreed between the airline and the pilots' representatives, the better.

"The last thing that anybody wants to see is passengers being discommoded, flights being cancelled, people's plans being disrupted."

Tanaiste Micheal Martin said: "I think it's very serious for passengers. Thousand and thousands of passengers are at risk.

"I would urge all sides to go to the Labour Relations Commission to have this issue resolved."

Aer Lingus' chief corporate affairs officer Donal Moriarty accused the union of being "determined" to inflict disruption on the travelling public.

Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Mr Moriarty said: "Inevitably, if they do, it will involve much disruption for our customers.

"What we're doing is preparing for that and we are communicating with our customers and try to lay out the options they have to minimise that disruption.

"However, it will be significant. The challenge at this time of year is that all airlines are busy, not just Aer Lingus, and seeking to re-accommodate passengers on other airlines is difficult."

Mr Moriarty said the 24% pay increase being sought by IALPA is untenable.

IALPA conducted a paper ballot over the weekend after Aer Lingus raised concerns about the integrity of the initial electronic ballot.