Last Updated: 20/08/2007 12:47 - Irish Times
Pilots accept LRC invitation from Aer Lingus
The Irish Airline Pilots Association (IALPA) has accepted an invitation from Aer Lingus for joint talks at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) and will call off its strike when talks are confirmed.
Aer Lingus chief executive Dermot Mannion last night wrote to the Irish Airline Pilots' Association (IALPA) calling on the union to withdraw its strike notice and to immediately engage with the company.
In a statement issued a short time ago by IALPA, the union said it would suspend the strike when Aer Lingus provided written confirmation that it agreed to the talks.
The news that the strike action is likely to be averted will come as a relief to the estimated 40,000 passengers who would have been affected by the 48-hour walkout by almost 500 pilots.
The pilots proposed to strike over the airline's plans to hire pilots for the new Belfast base on less favourable terms and conditions than its pilots flying out of the Republic.