Morning Ireland

Press release from IMPACT trade union on behalf of the cabin crew branch

The cabin crew branch of IMPACT trade union, which represents 1500 cabin crew at Aer Lingus, has received a copy of the cost cutting proposals presented today by the airline.
The branch executive, its membership and union officials will consider the document in detail.
The proposals are, on first reading, radical and severe. That the proposal also contains such a significant number of cabin crew job losses, is, in our view, deeply unfair and devastating to our members.
The difficulty for our members is that the airline has, over the last eight years, returned to staff repeatedly looking for savings, on the basis that the company is facing ruin. Time and again our members have conceded to changes in pay and and working conditions in response. As recently as nine months ago, our members delivered savings, valued at €15 million, to the company.
As we predicted then, the company have come back looking for more, with no regard to existing agreements.
We will consult with our members on the content of these proposals.