LAST UPDATE | 29 Jun
HUNDREDS OF AER Lingus pilots marched around Dublin Airport during an eight-hour strike this morning as part of the ongoing dispute over pay which has seen hundreds of flights cancelled during the busiest travel season.
The pilots, all in full uniform, set off at 6am from Aer Lingus’s head office on the airport site and walked past the two terminal buildings twice holding placards and banners.
The demonstration, which took place in pouring rain, caused major traffic disruption around the airport.
After the march was concluded, pilots set up a picket line at the main roundabout on the entrance to the airport.
.@IALPA members taking part in strike action today. pic.twitter.com/lLqluvGZJb
— Diarmuid Pepper (@Diarmuid_9) June 29, 2024
Today’s all-out strike is part of a broader strike, with pilots starting indefinite work-to-rule industrial action this week.
Meanwhile, across the Atlantic, pilots in Boston, Orlando and Seattle formed pickets in support of Aer Lingus pilots. Those who participated are members of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA).
Members of the Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (IALPA) are seeking a pay increase of 23.8% over three years, which it says is “clearly reasonable and affordable for a profitable company such as Aer Lingus”.
The union noted that in 2023, Aer Lingus had a full year operating profit of €225 million.
This was a 400% increase on 2022, when a full year operating profit of €45 million was recorded.
However, Aer Lingus has said it is willing to offer pay increases of 12.5% or above if “improvements in productivity and flexibility” are discussed.
Both sides are at an impasse. IALPA reps said yesterday that chances of an additional strike and further industrial action are high after talks in the 22-month dispute over pay broke down on Thursday.
A spokesperson told The Journal on Thursday: “The IALPA executive is considering a further work stoppage due to the companies clear escalation today by informing IALPA that it will unilaterally terminate the standing collective agreements, should IALPA not agree to amend them.”
However, the union has rolled back on any planned escalation and both sides have agreed to attend the Labour Court on Monday.
Aer Lingus cancelled an additional 122 flights next week due to the action, bringing the number of cancelled flights to 392.
With reporting from Diarmuid Pepper, Jane Matthews and Press Association
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