The Labour Court is to formally intervene in the ongoing pay dispute between Aer Lingus management and the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA), with a hearing to be held tomorrow.
The court has asked that there be no escalation of the dispute, but the current work-to-rule by IALPA members at Aer Lingus will remain in place.
The Labour Court met with the two sides for more than eight hours yesterday before informing the parties that it will exercise its right to intervene in the dispute under the Industrial Relations Act.
The court has requested final written submissions to be made by the parties by close of business today.
A recommendation from the Labour Court will be issued following on from tomorrow's hearing.
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Aer Lingus management and IALPA left the court last night shortly after 11pm.
IALPA President Captain Mark Tighe said the company had refused to move from its original position and continued to request flexibility and productivity changes in exchange for any pay increases beyond the 12.25% already agreed with other groups of workers.
He also claimed Aer Lingus had brought forward new demands that the Labour Court had not seen before.
"I am left, as before, with the hope that the court will be able to write a recommendation that will acknowledge the reasonableness of the pilots' claim," Cpt Tighe said.
Speaking as he left the talks, Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Donal Moriarty described the engagement with the Labour Court as constructive.
"The court's assessment was that the best approach it could take at this time was to formally intervene and to conduct a formal hearing," Mr Moriarty said.
Speaking as he left the Labour Court, Aer Lingus Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Donal Moriarty described the engagement with the court as constructive. @rtenews pic.twitter.com/x3AaNeZOl3
— Brian O'Donovan (@BrianOD_News) July 1, 2024
"Aer Lingus was open to reaching a solution using all avenues available to it, we outlined those details to the court, and it has determined that a formal hearing is the best next step to take," he added.
Taoiseach Simon Harris has said he welcomes the decision by the Labour Court to intervene in the Aer Lingus dispute.
Speaking on his way into Cabinet, Mr Harris said it was really important that both sides now "dig deep"
as he outlined the consequences for both passengers going abroad and people coming here at this time.
Mr Harris said the only way this dispute can be resolved is by sitting down and finding a resolution.
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"I don't think there has ever been an industrial relations dispute that is resolved without two things - engagement and compromise," he said. "That is the key ingredient."
On Saturday, Aer Lingus pilots, who are members of IALPA, took part in an eight-hour strike.
They are also continuing with an indefinite work-to-rule which began last Wednesday.
The industrial action has so far led to the cancellation of 392 flights with more disruption on the way if a resolution is not found.
The pilots are seeking a pay rise of up to 24% to take account of inflation since their last wage increase in 2019.
However, Aer Lingus is seeking agreement on productivity and flexibility in return for any pay increases that go beyond the 12.25% agreed with other groups of workers at the company.
On Thursday, management and union representatives met face to face for five hours, but the talks broke down without agreement.
IALPA said it had offered to move from its 24% pay demand but accused the company of failing to reciprocate.
On Friday, the Labour Court issued a fresh invitation to the two parties to attend yesterday's meeting.
The development saw IALPA back down from a plan to escalate the industrial action.
Labour Court 'friend to working people' - PBP
People Before Profit-Solidarity TD Mick Barry has said the Aer Lingus-IALPA pilots pay dispute is an "issue for the whole country" as it underlines the difference between the income of large companies and that of their workers.
Speaking at Leinster House, Mr Barry said the parent group of Aer Lingus - IAG - made a €3.5 billion profit last year, while pilots have had "no increase in basic pay".
He said an opinion poll in a weekend newspaper suggested 38% of people support the pilots, while 34% are opposed to their pay request.
However, he said the issue is wider than Aer Lingus and IALPA and that many companies "make super profits" while workers receive pay increases "below inflation".
Mr Barry said the public will be watching the Labour Court "closely" as it examines the issue.
He said if the pilots are "forced" to "escalate" their dispute, People Before Profit-Solidarity "will support them".
Aer Lingus' policy of leasing planes to carry passengers during its industrial dispute with pilots has been criticised as a "provocative move" in the Dáil by the People Before Profit-Solidarity TD.
Mr Barry also attacked the Labour Court which he said was "no friend to working people in my view."
He added that escalation of the dispute could bring it to a halt "more quickly".
However, Taoiseach Simon Harris claimed it was "highly regrettable that any member of this house would cast aspersions on the Labour Court".
He added there are "always two sides to any dispute".
Mr Harris said: "We should actually speak up for our own citizens who are trying to go on holidays."
Additional reporting Karen Creed, Fiachra Ó Cionnaith