Aer Lingus set to detail planned cuts
Tuesday, 6 October 2009 18:18Aer Lingus is expected to issue a statement early tomorrow morning on the details of its cost-cutting plans.
Union representatives will be informed about the impact of the proposed cuts in a series of meetings beginning tomorrow morning at bases in Dublin, Cork, Shannon and Gatwick.
The airline has repeatedly stated the need for significant cuts in the wake of the current downturn in the aviation industry.
The airline said in August it would cut wages and probably jobs, but a detailed plan had to await the arrival last month of new CEO Christoph Mueller.
'There is a series of workshops taking place (tomorrow) that the company are hosting,' said a spokesman for the IMPACT trade union, which represents hundreds of Aer Lingus cabin crew and pilots.
'This is apparently when they will present their cost-cutting proposals.'
A spokesman for Aer Lingus said some internal briefings were scheduled for tomorrow, adding he 'could not confirm that any announcement was due' and would not elaborate.
The Irish Times reported last week the board had agreed on a cost-cutting programme which could involve close to 500 of about 3,900 staff leaving the company and remaining employees taking a 10% pay cut in a bid to save €130 million.
