A possible strike by Aer Lingus pilots, which has been voted upon again, will have its results revealed later today. The re-vote took place due to the questionable legality of the first voting method which was conducted electronically. It resulted in an emphatic 98% favouring strike action in pursuit of a 24% wage increase. The news of this drew concern from Aer Lingus, highlighting the substantial disruption and serious consequences it could have on tourists and families during the peak summer period.
The Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), after being questioned over the electronic voting process, opted for a paper vote that has taken place at the Ialpa and Fórsa office locations. The announcement of the final decision will take place this morning at 11am. If IALPA executives opt for labour strikes, they must provide the airline with a notice period of minimum seven days.
The airline further emphasised the substantial impact any possible strike could have, acknowledging it as leverage in the union’s negotiations. On the other hand, Aer Lingus has expressed that the proposed wage increase is unsustainable. The recommendation by the Labour Court for pilots to accept a 9.25% increase and to return to discussions on unresolved issues, has been dismissed by the pilots.
The latest issue of our Inside Business podcast is published on a weekly basis, you can find this here.