SIPTU has called for a meeting with Aer Lingus management to discuss its plans for cost cutting.
It is understood chief executive Dermot Mannion told shop stewards in a meeting he wanted to examine all costs at the airline.
He did not mention job cuts or any specific divisions in the airline.
SITPU officials at Aer Lingus have rejected reports that the company wanted significant job cuts.
Christy McQuillan of SIPTU's airport branch told RTÉ News there was no mention of job cuts or cut backs in specific areas at yesterday's meeting.
And he hit out at newspaper reports this morning, describing them as 'trigger happy journalism'.
Mr McQuillan said that SIPTU's National Industrial Secretary, Michael Halpenny, had sought and received further assurances from Mr Mannion this morning that there were no proposed job cuts.
He said he fully expected the company to honour existing agreements with staff.
It is understood the commitment to drive costs down will be mentioned in the Aer Lingus defence document which will published in response to the hostile bid from Ryanair.
At the meeting last night, Mr Mannion is understood to have said the company would win the takeover battle with Ryanair but should not lose the war on the commercial challenges in future.
It is understood management has not ruled in or out any particular cost-saving measures.
