The Labour Court of Ireland has suggested that Aer Lingus attempt to reconcile their ongoing conflict with their airline pilots by implementing a salary increase of 17.75 per cent. This suggestion is deemed by many to be the final opportunity to resolve the long-standing wage dispute that has affected the summer travel arrangements of 82,000 passengers.
Members of the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), part of Fórsa trade union, initiated this dispute when they filed a wage increase claim of either 23.88 per cent or 27 per cent, depending on who performed the calculations, with Aer Lingus in October 2022.
The argument persisted for two years and escalated two weeks ago, with pilots refusing additional work, overtime, and schedule alterations. This refusal to follow orders continues, with an eight-hour strike taking place on Saturday, June 29th.
Prior to this escalation, efforts were made to resolve the dispute through the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) and the Labour Court.
The recommendation released by the Labour Court on Monday suggests an increase in the pilots’ pay over a period of over three years, starting with a 2 per cent pay hike backdated to January 2023, concluding with a final 1 per cent increase on July 1st, 2026. Eight payments in total, four of which are backdated, will provide a salary increase of 10.75 per cent by the end of 2023 and the remaining 7 per cent between January 2025 and July 2026.
In addition to the salary increase, the court suggests a 10 per cent increase to the overnight allowances given to pilots from the date they agree to these recommendations, if agreed to, followed by an additional 5 per cent increment from October 1st, 2025.
Lastly, the court implores the airline to forgive the “debt”, equivalent to roughly 3.75 per cent of the pilots’ salaries, that has accumulated since a 2019 agreement that offered the pilots more flexibility during the summer holiday season.
The internal pay tribunal of Aer Lingus last year proposed a reduction in its proposed offer to pilots, trimming it to 8.75 per cent from the previous 12.25 per cent accepted by cabin and ground crew members. However, this proposal was not accepted by Ialpa. This disagreement was a sticking point that the court recommended be referred back to the WRC.
Aer Lingus has shown its approval for the proposed resolution. On Tuesday, it is expected that the executive of Ialpa will deliver their judgement on the issue. Following this decision, a vote by union members within the airline company will take place. For now, industrial actions persist, and consequently, the airline has annulled flights until Sunday, the 14th of July.