Originally Posted by ASWIPE
So is this dispute about the fact the managment of Aer Lingus haven't spoken to you about their plans or the actual plans themselves?
If they've found a cost effective way to expand the airline by opening a new base outside the jurisdiction and the board agrees its in the best interests of the shareholders then I don't see why they have to seek the approval of the staff whose current terms and conditions remain unaffected.
The Aer Lingus pilots are shareholders, and they feel this is not in their best interests. It also breaches solemn agreements with the pilots. Confrontational and aggressive management causes a breakdown in trust, and destroys good working relationships. The result is perfectly predictable.
....some people, perhaps naievley assumed that with the staff owning such a large slice of the company they would 'look at the bigger picture' (the survival of the airline) in when it came to matters of industrial relations.
The staff in Aer Lingus paid for their shareholding in cash or productivity. They were a punt for them too, and none of them will be retiring to their yacht in the Med on the proceeds.
A decent JOB is worth more to people than a smallholding.
You may find that difficult to comprehend, since (given your comments) you are obviously living off the proceeds of your own lucrative investments, and can't relate to the irritating 'little people' who must work to make you wealthy.
What message will this strike send out to current and perhaps more importantly future investors in the company if Aer Lingus backs down on this one? Answer, in Aer Lingus the unions still run the company and have the final say in all managment decisions.
I would say the message it will send out is this - "if you want to make a fast buck off the exploitation of stupid 'little people', look elsewhere. Try
NIKE or
Ryanair".
And I would say it also says - "if you want to invest in an
ethical company, which does not mistreat employees, and which does not operate discriminatory employment practices - put your money
here".
I understand that ethical investment (also known as Socially Responsible Investment) is one of the fastest growing sectors in the money markets.
What if the company did decide to back down and postpone or cancel the opening of the Belfast base along with the recruitment of the new staff on the new contracts, would this be an acceptable outcome to the pilots and their union representatives?
No, and it would be a stupid and unnecessary outcome.
The Belfast base WILL go ahead, but it will be done on an agreed basis.
Why shouldn't Ryanair protect their investment in the company by stepping in and flying the routes for EI if asked?
Ryanair can do what they like - but they don't own LHR slots, so your point is stupid. Again.