Entering a critical stage now...Seems like the airline will not budge from it's plans to hire the Belfast crews.
Aer Lingus pilot talks will be tough
Wednesday, 5 September 2007 07:16
Aer Lingus could face a renewed threat of industrial action if crunch talks later today between the management and pilots' representatives break down.
Last week the Labour Relations Commission proposed that high-level delegations from management and unions should meet face-to-face to try to iron out their differences.
But sources suggest that at this morning's encounter, Aer Lingus will indicate that it must proceed as soon as possible with its recruiting of 100 staff for the new base in Belfast despite the pilots' objections.
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Two weeks ago Aer Lingus pilots called off a threatened strike over the airline's plans to recruit staff at the new Belfast base on lower terms and conditions.
Aer Lingus says it has had 1,100 applications for the 100 Belfast jobs and needs to start active recruitment to have those staff in place when the new base starts operating on December 10. The airline is to publish the controversial terms and conditions for the Belfast staff on its website at lunchtime.