Aer Lingus cabin crew have served formal notice of industrial action on the airline to take effect from 25 August.
Their union IMPACT says that from that date, they will refuse to work new disputed rosters introduced unilaterally by management and will revert to the rosters that applied up to the end of June.
IMPACT reiterated that a strike would only arise if disciplinary action were taken against their members for working to their original contracts.
Last night, Aer Lingus said that it would continue to phase in productivity measures including the disputed rosters, which would appear to suggest that conflict could arise on 25 August.
However, it is hoped an ongoing arbitration process chaired by Chief Executive of the Labour Relations Commission Kieran Mulvey may offer hope of a solution.
At a briefing this morning, IMPACT outlined in detail how the new rosters affect staff.
Senior cabin crew member Zita Wall said that she is no longer entitled to a formal 30-minute meal break during a day commencing at 5am and finishing at 3pm during which she might make two return trips to London.
She would also only receive credit for four 'block' or flying hours, despite having a working day of ten hours.
IMPACT acknowledged that the new rosters are compliant with international rules and regulations and stressed that they do not in any way affect safety.
Aer Lingus developing contingency plans
Aer Lingus has said it is developing contingency plans to deal with every eventuality.
Director of Staff Relations Sean Murphy said that the airline was taking the notice of industrial action, up to and including full strike action, very seriously.
He said cabin crew had signed up to delivering 850 flying hours a year. On the other hand, as hours were gradually increased, 160 full-time cabin crew positions had become redundant.
So far the equivalent of 108 full-time staff had taken voluntary severance.
The remaining 52 voluntary redundancies will take effect at the end of October.
Mr Murphy said that if the increased flying hours were not delivered the airline would have to hire staff to cover the schedule - which would make no sense when they were trying to cut costs.
He said the traditional 'black book' agreement on rosters and working time had been dissolved on 13 November to be replaced by the Greenfield cost-reduction package.
He claimed many of the work patterns which cabin crew were objecting to were already permitted under the original black book.
He said staff would get meal breaks, but wanted cabin crew to manage the meal breaks more efficiently.
Mr Murphy rejected criticisms that the airline had jumped the gun by introducing the new rosters before Mr Mulvey completed an arbitration on the row.
He said Aer Lingus has to make savings and he defended the company's actions as a 'measured, gradual' approach.
The airline is due to meet Mr Mulvey on 26 August, the day after the notice of industrial action expires.
