After a recent period of industrial conflict, Aer Lingus pilots have had their wages docked as a result of their participation in strike actions. This row was resolved earlier this week when a majority of 85% of the pilots chose to accept a wage increment of 17.75%, as presented by the Labour Court.
The Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), a sector of the Fórsa trade union, has had ongoing debates with the airline about wage issues. When the conflict culminated in an eight-hour strike and a work-to-rule action, which included the refusal of union members to partake in duties not listed on their rota, the airline retorted by docking wages.
Reports suggest that the pay of pilots who resumed their duties following the strike on June 29th was also reduced, despite them having completed their usual tasks. Wages are not given to workers during their time on strike. Deductions were furthermore linked to a “failure to join” penalty that airlines apply when pilots do not show for flights they were scheduled to work on.
The Ialpa highlighted this issue as they considered the proposals of the Labour Court for member acceptance two weeks prior. Refusing to comment on the issue was Aer Lingus, who indicated the company believed reductions were due to industrial actions.
Union spokespersons have said that the Ialpa might involve the Workplace Relations Commission for these cases. The airline also has its own internal processes to address staff grievances and issues.
The work-to-rule action by the Ialpa included pilots refusing overtime, changes to rotas, or work outside of working hours, and also rejecting managerial requests to do so.
In opposition to attempts by the management to escalate the discord, the pilots were on strike from 5am to 1pm on June 29th. During this industrial action, which lasted for two weeks from Wednesday June 26th, Aer Lingus was unable to maintain its full summer timetable.
In reaction, Aer Lingus had to annul 610 flights, with 573 of them being cancelled well in advance in an effort to maintain as many services operational as they could. On the day, an additional 37 flights were cancelled, impacting over 90,000 travellers in total. Preemptive cancellations extended beyond the cessation of the industrial strike 16 days prior, due to uncertainty surrounding the union’s decision to halt while the Labour Court’s proposition was being reviewed by its executive board.
Aer Lingus managed to reroute and rearrange many of the affected passengers’ flights, whilst others opted for reimbursements. The firm repeatedly expressed that the conflict negatively affected its image, yet the management are of the belief that they handled the communication with passengers and their refunding and rerouting more effectively than in previous crises. The airline has not yet disclosed the financial impact of the dispute.