News

Four pilots suspended in Belfast dispute

Tuesday, 9 October 2007 23:12

Four pilots have been suspended in their dispute with Aer Lingus management over the new Belfast hub.

The suspensions follow the refusal by pilots to co-operate with this morning's deadline to begin training new staff for the Belfast operation.

30 other pilots who had an optional extra duty of training new recruits are now resigning from that function.

A spokesman for Aer Lingus said the pilots were appointed to the role as instructors and the company would not accept partial resignation of responsibilities.

Earlier, the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern urged management and unions to sit down with each other and try to resolve the issues together.

Speaking to journalists following an address to IBEC's annual HR summit in Dublin, Mr Ahern said both sides should understand that it is in their best interest to do this.

Mr Ahern acknowledged that there are problems within Aer Lingus, but he said the lesson of the last 20 years on social partnership is that it is about working together and this is the best way to resolve any problems.

He urged both sides to use internal dispute resolution mechanisms if possible. He added that if they need help from the broader industrial relations machinery of the State, then it would be happy to help.

The Aer Lingus Chief Executive, Dermot Mannion, said he hoped sense would prevail and that the company's pilots would carry out their normal duties.

He claimed the company had delivered a solution to the impasse by creating a mechanism for pilots from the Republic who want to move to Northern Ireland to do so.

The onus, he added, is now very much on the pilots union IALPA to respond to that today, in good faith, and to allow members carry on their duties.

Management says pilots are expected to help select and train new staff to fly on routes from Belfast in two months' time.

However, pilots are objecting to some of the terms and conditions for the new staff. The new pilots will not have as good a pension as their colleagues in the Republic.

The Irish Airline Pilots Association has said it wants to hold further talks on the issue. Management has said it has done enough talking and needs to recruit pilots for the Belfast operation immediately.