Labour Court has criticised a lack of ‘realism and common sense’ in negotiations
The rejection by the union comes even after the Labour Court said there has been a lack of “realism and common sense” during efforts to reach a deal at the airline.
The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) has been holding out for a 27pc pay increase over three years, while Aer Lingus has offered 12.25pc. The proposal by the carrier included 3.75pc to pay for a 2019 crewing agreement, while the union’s demand included 7pc to cover the cost of the 2019 deal. That meant the proposed net increases would be 8.5pc and 20pc respectively.
An independent Pilot Pay Tribunal had last year recommended a 12.25pc increase in consolidated pay and a 1.5pc rise in unconsolidated pay for the pilots.
The Labour Court has recommended an interim plan that would see the almost 800 pilots receive a 9.25pc increase, with the remaining increase attached to the cost of the crewing agreement to be sent back to the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to be thrashed out by the end of August.
When it was introduced in 2019, it was accepted that the cost of the crewing agreement would be shouldered by the pilots.
The Labour Court heard submissions from both sides last month.
“It is a matter of concern to the Court that the extensive engagement between the parties in relation to the matters now before the Court has not resulted in any discernible indication of understanding by the parties that the resolution of the trade dispute will require the exercise of pragmatism, realism and common sense in order to identify a position that has the potential to be accepted by both,” Labour Court chairman Kevin Foley said in his ruling.
Aer Lingus, whose chief executive is Lynne Embleton, has accepted the recommendations put forward by the Labour Court.
“Aer Lingus has reviewed the Labour Court’s interim recommendation on the issue of pilot pay at the airline,” the airline said in a statement. “We note the challenges that the Court has outlined which prevented it from issuing a final and definitive recommendation on the issues before the Court. Aer Lingus accepts the content of the recommendation that was issued and will look to take the interim steps outlined within it. Aer Lingus looks forward to re-engaging on the issues in the WRC as recommended by the Court.”
The Labour Court recommendation suggests that the two sides recognise that the “scope of the agreement which they have been pursuing through various fora from December 2022 is beyond their capacity at this time and that the continuing failure to secure comprehensive agreement has the potential to become a point of dispute in itself”.
Aer Lingus is part of the IAG group that also includes British Airways, Iberia and Vueling.
IAG has already pulled delivery of a new Airbus A321XLR to Aer Lingus as a result of the pilot pay dispute. The airline was due to be the launch customer for the new jet, but it is instead now being delivered to Iberia.
Delivery of a second A321XLR that was due for delivery to Aer Lingus in October could also be in doubt if a pay deal is not sealed in time.
