Aer Lingus cabin crew reject cost saving proposal

A €97 million cost-saving proposal has been turned down by cabin crew staff.

Gary Parsons - 8-Mar-2010

Aer Lingus image

March 8: A €97 million cost-saving proposal negotiated between the trade union Impact and Aer Lingus management at the Labour Relations Commission (LRC) in November 2009 has been turned down by cabin crew staff.

A ballot on accepting the proposal was defeated with only 36% in favour and 64% against. Impact had recommended the approval of the measures, which would “minimise job losses, and help sustain the future of the airline”, but acknowledged that aspects of the proposals would be “difficult” for members to accept as it has come less than a year after cabin crew had agreed to substantial cost saving measures, valued by Aer Lingus at €15 million at the time, in November 2008. The new package will see up to 600 voluntary redundancies, pay cuts of up to 10% and a three-year pay freeze, reports the Irish newspaper The Herald.

The airline has threatened to axe 1,100 jobs if the cost saving package is rejected, angering many of the staff, said Impact in a statement. However, pilots and ground staff have agreed to the cuts, leaving the cabin crew as the last major group yet to be in accord.

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