Aer Lingus suspends pilots & ops (merged)
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Sub-service during strike action
To My friends in Aer Lingus, my deepest sympathys. Lets hope this gets resolved quickly.
To those of you working in other airlines, especially UK airlines, who may be rostered to operate some sub-services on Aer Lingus routes on Strike day, a word of advice.
Following the change in the law on secondary picketing brought about by Mrs Thatcher, you must be very careful. If your company rosters you, within the terms of your working agreement to operate sub-service for ANYONE you must undertake the work or be in breach of contract. Furthermore, your employer can seek damages from you for any losses, and your Union may have their funds sequestered if they support you in your refusal to undertake work beacuse of an industrial dispute that is not tied DIRECTLY to your company.
This law was made VERY clear to all the UK airlines that operated in Australia in 1989. It goes back to the miners dispute. Be warned. I'm not sure this applies to airlines of other nationalities, so they, at least , might have the option of following their conscience, although I suspect in the current pilot market place, I'm not sure how many would want to refuse to work.
Sad days indeed.
p.s. for the benefit of those pilots NOT working for UK airlines, CAP371 (The UK CAA to FTL's) states that minimum rest away from base can be reduced to 11 hours in company provided accomodation, provided that the journey time from the airport to the hotel is less than 30 minutes, and that the hotel room is available for occupancy for 10 hours. So 10 hours in a hotel is legal, giving 11 hours "rest" total.
To those of you working in other airlines, especially UK airlines, who may be rostered to operate some sub-services on Aer Lingus routes on Strike day, a word of advice.
Following the change in the law on secondary picketing brought about by Mrs Thatcher, you must be very careful. If your company rosters you, within the terms of your working agreement to operate sub-service for ANYONE you must undertake the work or be in breach of contract. Furthermore, your employer can seek damages from you for any losses, and your Union may have their funds sequestered if they support you in your refusal to undertake work beacuse of an industrial dispute that is not tied DIRECTLY to your company.
This law was made VERY clear to all the UK airlines that operated in Australia in 1989. It goes back to the miners dispute. Be warned. I'm not sure this applies to airlines of other nationalities, so they, at least , might have the option of following their conscience, although I suspect in the current pilot market place, I'm not sure how many would want to refuse to work.
Sad days indeed.
p.s. for the benefit of those pilots NOT working for UK airlines, CAP371 (The UK CAA to FTL's) states that minimum rest away from base can be reduced to 11 hours in company provided accomodation, provided that the journey time from the airport to the hotel is less than 30 minutes, and that the hotel room is available for occupancy for 10 hours. So 10 hours in a hotel is legal, giving 11 hours "rest" total.
Last edited by ADC; 26th May 2002 at 22:09.
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Good luck to all EI pilots in your dispute. Hope it turns out the right way and that your suspended colleagues are back at work again very soon. Aer Lingus management have a long history of being so very out of touch. Why has it never got any better? You would think that eventually some reasonably skilled and educated types would have made it to the top of the company thus preventing them from getting in to these no win type of situations. I mean, there is a either an agreement whereby the roster can only be changed through negotiation or not? Or, are the gang from the PDF & brown boot club still calling a lot of the shots and organising for themselves hectic careers at the Collinstown base and so perpetuating the same kind of man-management? Sad, if true.
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Oh, ******!
You mean that bullying pilots and making them the butt of all the company's problems, then trying to enforce un-agreed changes to the AFS doesn't work?
That's a shame, we were rather hoping to use those tactics at bmi.
You mean that bullying pilots and making them the butt of all the company's problems, then trying to enforce un-agreed changes to the AFS doesn't work?
That's a shame, we were rather hoping to use those tactics at bmi.
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'oneworld order'
It's interesting that the 'oneworld' members are engaging in union-busting activities. Now, at AA, Don Carty is pushing Congress to amend the Railway Labor Act to require winner-take-all style arbitration.
I have no faith in the 'purity' of the arbitration process, I can't believe management would rush to embrace it if they thought the process couldn't be corrupted.
AA's management makes a sport of liberally interpreting the contract, although the violations haven't been as egregious as those at AL.
Good luck to all.TC
I have no faith in the 'purity' of the arbitration process, I can't believe management would rush to embrace it if they thought the process couldn't be corrupted.
AA's management makes a sport of liberally interpreting the contract, although the violations haven't been as egregious as those at AL.
Good luck to all.TC
Moderate, Modest & Mild.
A strike almost NEVER gains public support/sympathy - esp. in the transport sector, and ESP. "fat cat" pilots.
May I suggest that one of the most effective tools that can be used to GAIN public support is ACTIVE involvement by the pilots in EXPLAINING the reasons WHY they are taking action.
Leaflets handed out, at airports, to the passengers affected, explaining how degraded rest conditions for YOU, directly impact THEIR immediate SAFETY, because of the increased RISK of DANGER, is time and money well spent.
Let them know that you - the pilot group - are on strike for the SAFETY of your passengers, whilst management are interested only in their MONEY!
May I suggest that one of the most effective tools that can be used to GAIN public support is ACTIVE involvement by the pilots in EXPLAINING the reasons WHY they are taking action.
Leaflets handed out, at airports, to the passengers affected, explaining how degraded rest conditions for YOU, directly impact THEIR immediate SAFETY, because of the increased RISK of DANGER, is time and money well spent.
Let them know that you - the pilot group - are on strike for the SAFETY of your passengers, whilst management are interested only in their MONEY!
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You are so right Kaptin but the object of a strike isn't to curry favour with the travelling public, that of course will never work. The object is to deny revenue to the company, which always works in a work stoppage. The only thing the managers of these airlines understand is money and how much is made or lost. Make them lose a little money and they realise the changes aren't worth it. Then you sit down at the table and sort it out like grown-ups.
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Oneworld of s**t
I get the funny feeling that the managment teams from Cathay, Aer Lingus, and Lan Chile have all been having luch together quite often lately. The union busting damage tally to date...
Lan Chile, sunk.
Cathay, listing.
Aer Lingus, first torpedo in-bound.
Look out boys at AA, and BA your managers are soon to be included at the lunchons....
Lan Chile, sunk.
Cathay, listing.
Aer Lingus, first torpedo in-bound.
Look out boys at AA, and BA your managers are soon to be included at the lunchons....
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More information regarding the strike busting airlines. Monarch was a ruse- the real culprits are Corsair, Hapag Lloyd and European Aviation.
I trust that these gentlemen will enjoy their pieces of silver.
I trust that these gentlemen will enjoy their pieces of silver.
Last edited by cluckingbell; 28th May 2002 at 23:00.
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If these new practices are dangerous or not in accordance with international regulations then should not the pilots
a) take it up with the IAA in the first instance and if (when ?) the IAA response is considered inadequate
b) take the problem to JAA/ICAO ?
If safety is being compromised due to lack of a proper regulatory environment, then I believe that those professionals competent to make such a judgement have an obligation to raise this issue at whatever level it can be addressed.
Getting into another management vs staff dispute won't solve the core problem - lack of proper safety regulation.
I guess this post also applies to the current Ryanair thread.
a) take it up with the IAA in the first instance and if (when ?) the IAA response is considered inadequate
b) take the problem to JAA/ICAO ?
If safety is being compromised due to lack of a proper regulatory environment, then I believe that those professionals competent to make such a judgement have an obligation to raise this issue at whatever level it can be addressed.
Getting into another management vs staff dispute won't solve the core problem - lack of proper safety regulation.
I guess this post also applies to the current Ryanair thread.
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It looks like Willy's going to the wire.
Aer Lingus “deeply disturbed” at IMPACT statement on
Survival Plan
Tuesday 28th May
Aer Lingus today said that it was deeply disturbed at the statement in a letter received from IMPACT that the union representing Aer Lingus pilots fails to see the relevance of the Aer Lingus Survival Plan.
This statement by IMPACT is totally at variance with the views of the vast majority of Aer Lingus staff who have voted for and implemented change in accordance with the Survival Plan. It is also at variance with the process facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission including the ruling of an independent agreed arbitrator.
Aer Lingus has consistently maintained that full implementation of the Survival Plan is vital for the future viability of the company.
As a result of strike action by pilots on Thursday 30th May and their ongoing refusal to co-operate with the full implementation of the Survival Plan, Aer Lingus will not be in a position to recommence operations on Friday 31st May. This position will be kept under review on a daily basis.
Aer Lingus regrets having to make this decision and the consequent disruption to our customers. It has been made inevitable by the disruption caused by Thursday’s strike, the ongoing threat of further action and the written confirmation from IMPACT that the pilots will continue to refuse to implement the arbitration rulings on the airline’s Survival Plan. The IMPACT letter went on to say that the union fails to see the relevance of the Aer Lingus Survival Plan.
Aer Lingus will issue regular bulletins on its operating plans.
Aer Lingus Corporate Affairs
28 May 2002
Survival Plan
Tuesday 28th May
Aer Lingus today said that it was deeply disturbed at the statement in a letter received from IMPACT that the union representing Aer Lingus pilots fails to see the relevance of the Aer Lingus Survival Plan.
This statement by IMPACT is totally at variance with the views of the vast majority of Aer Lingus staff who have voted for and implemented change in accordance with the Survival Plan. It is also at variance with the process facilitated by the Labour Relations Commission including the ruling of an independent agreed arbitrator.
Aer Lingus has consistently maintained that full implementation of the Survival Plan is vital for the future viability of the company.
As a result of strike action by pilots on Thursday 30th May and their ongoing refusal to co-operate with the full implementation of the Survival Plan, Aer Lingus will not be in a position to recommence operations on Friday 31st May. This position will be kept under review on a daily basis.
Aer Lingus regrets having to make this decision and the consequent disruption to our customers. It has been made inevitable by the disruption caused by Thursday’s strike, the ongoing threat of further action and the written confirmation from IMPACT that the pilots will continue to refuse to implement the arbitration rulings on the airline’s Survival Plan. The IMPACT letter went on to say that the union fails to see the relevance of the Aer Lingus Survival Plan.
Aer Lingus will issue regular bulletins on its operating plans.
Aer Lingus Corporate Affairs
28 May 2002
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Look out AA, BA...
We at AA are already seeing what's coming down the road. Don is pushing for "Baseball style"(remember this phrase) arbitration.
That is both sides present their proposals for a contract and an
"independent" arbitrator chooses which proposal is best and that's it. They pick the entire proposal, not just segments of both.
Also, BA is already on the chopping block with the change to the retirement plan.
ALL the oneworlder's have been having lunch together.TC
That is both sides present their proposals for a contract and an
"independent" arbitrator chooses which proposal is best and that's it. They pick the entire proposal, not just segments of both.
Also, BA is already on the chopping block with the change to the retirement plan.
ALL the oneworlder's have been having lunch together.TC
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On Thursday Aer Lingus will spend 7 figures on hiring in aircraft to maintain the schedule during the strike. On Friday, the airline is not viable without the pilots accepting the full terms of the "survival plan", and all operations will cease.
Does anyone believe this 5>1t?
What are we doing, saving the airline, breaking IALPA or devaluing the company?
Answers to;
Willie Wonka
Oneworld Airlines
Does anyone believe this 5>1t?
What are we doing, saving the airline, breaking IALPA or devaluing the company?
Answers to;
Willie Wonka
Oneworld Airlines
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Willy's out to make a name for himself
Aer Lingus reservations have been told to not accept bookings for flights up until Thursday 6th June. Digging in for a fight methinks.
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According to Aer Lingus Dan the Propaganda Man the aeroplanes will all be in the wrong place on Friday to operate. (Quoted on RTE's 5-7 live.)
How will they get there on Saturday? Perhaps they'll be shipped?
How will they get there on Saturday? Perhaps they'll be shipped?
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From this mornings Irish Independent. (other similar stories in the Irish Times)
Aer Lingus to ground all flights in dogfight with pilots
AER Lingus is grounding all flights from tomorrow with no clear date for a resumption of services as its dispute with pilots worsens.
In a dramatic response to a one-day strike over the airline's survival plan, the company will shut down the airline on Friday. The move is an attempt by management to fully implement its cost cutting plan.
Tomorrow limited services will fly to Britain and the US as pilots stage their one-day strike. Instead of carrying the normal daily load of 20,000 passengers, only 3,000 will be able to travel.
The management yesterday said it would not be able to resume services on Friday when no customers will travel. It has not decided when services will restart and the situation will be "kept under daily review".
The dispute centres on the pilots' refusal to work a new roster which reduces time off and increases flexibility.
The change is part of the survival plan which saw 2026 staff take redundancy and costs cut by €200m in the wake of the September 11 global airline crisis.
Aer Lingus corporate affairs director Dan Loughrey said: "We believe the plan is the absolute minimum we need to survive. It is vital it is implemented in full."
The airline said it was "deeply disturbed" by a letter from the pilots' trade union, Impact, questioning the relevance of the company's survival plan.
Customers whose flights are cancelled can fly with another airline, accept a refund, or travel on another date.
Bernard Harbor, a spokesman for Impact, said there was no reason for the airline to close on Friday. "This is a unilateral decision of Aer Lingus to disrupt passengers and risk the future of the airline."
Mr Harbor added the pilots had co-operated with the bulk of the survival plan and were responsible for reducing costs by €12m. Seven staff have been suspended without pay for defying the new timetable.
John Power, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, last night called on the Government to immediately step in to resolve the dispute before serious damage is caused to the 150,000-job tourism industry.
David Murphy, Deputy Business Editor
Aer Lingus to ground all flights in dogfight with pilots
AER Lingus is grounding all flights from tomorrow with no clear date for a resumption of services as its dispute with pilots worsens.
In a dramatic response to a one-day strike over the airline's survival plan, the company will shut down the airline on Friday. The move is an attempt by management to fully implement its cost cutting plan.
Tomorrow limited services will fly to Britain and the US as pilots stage their one-day strike. Instead of carrying the normal daily load of 20,000 passengers, only 3,000 will be able to travel.
The management yesterday said it would not be able to resume services on Friday when no customers will travel. It has not decided when services will restart and the situation will be "kept under daily review".
The dispute centres on the pilots' refusal to work a new roster which reduces time off and increases flexibility.
The change is part of the survival plan which saw 2026 staff take redundancy and costs cut by €200m in the wake of the September 11 global airline crisis.
Aer Lingus corporate affairs director Dan Loughrey said: "We believe the plan is the absolute minimum we need to survive. It is vital it is implemented in full."
The airline said it was "deeply disturbed" by a letter from the pilots' trade union, Impact, questioning the relevance of the company's survival plan.
Customers whose flights are cancelled can fly with another airline, accept a refund, or travel on another date.
Bernard Harbor, a spokesman for Impact, said there was no reason for the airline to close on Friday. "This is a unilateral decision of Aer Lingus to disrupt passengers and risk the future of the airline."
Mr Harbor added the pilots had co-operated with the bulk of the survival plan and were responsible for reducing costs by €12m. Seven staff have been suspended without pay for defying the new timetable.
John Power, chief executive of the Irish Hotels Federation, last night called on the Government to immediately step in to resolve the dispute before serious damage is caused to the 150,000-job tourism industry.
David Murphy, Deputy Business Editor
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Good luck to all the flight crew at Aer Lingus. Keep your spirits up and stay united. I look forward to watching your management back-track when they finally realise that you need to have co-operative pilots to successfully run an airline. Sadly, it seems that confrontation is the preferred approach by Oneworld managers, so I expect that those of us at BA will probably be in the same boat by the end of the year.
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Hot Wings
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I wish all friends and colleagues in EI the very best for thurs. I hope it all gets resolved in your favour. EI is a good operation run by top class crews, and future success depends on those guys/gals being properly rewarded and motivated. Hope WW keeps this thought to the forefront over coming days.
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This is about safety!
This is quickly becoming de-rigeur for the new Al-Qaeda style of airline management. Stay united, stop their insane and unsafe demands on flight time limitations. Call their bluff. Fatigue amongst professionals is a hot issue here in the UK, and the absence of any concern from airline managements for this crucial safety issue is a flashing red warning light.
We must stop this persecution of the profession. If you dig your heels and hold out, they’ll simply have to find an easier target. The shareholders will be pretty unimpressed with a board of directors who will not negotiate and promise a suicide bombing of the company unless they get their way.
This is contemptible blackmail. Don’t yield to it. We will all face this battle very shortly as this new style of ‘management’ comes to the fore. Fight it. We’re fighting with you. The very best of luck to you, and the very worst to the suits. You have our full support.
I'll take on the opposition anyday. It's my management I can't beat!
We must stop this persecution of the profession. If you dig your heels and hold out, they’ll simply have to find an easier target. The shareholders will be pretty unimpressed with a board of directors who will not negotiate and promise a suicide bombing of the company unless they get their way.
This is contemptible blackmail. Don’t yield to it. We will all face this battle very shortly as this new style of ‘management’ comes to the fore. Fight it. We’re fighting with you. The very best of luck to you, and the very worst to the suits. You have our full support.
I'll take on the opposition anyday. It's my management I can't beat!