The Labour Court recommended that the agreement on pay and conditions already applied elsewhere at Aer Lingus be accepted for 25 clerical workers in Shannon. The recommendation was signed on 23 October 1989.
The Irish Transport And General Workers' Union sought to retain existing pay structures and conditions, opposing lower starting salaries, reduced roster allowances and possible mandatory layoffs for new staff. It said it had not been invited to discussions in 1987 when Aer Lingus and another union agreed less favourable terms for new entrants.
Aer Lingus said the new structure was needed to compete and control costs, and that the terms had been agreed with the majority union. The Court criticised the company's handling of the Shannon issue, but noted the agreement had been in place in Dublin, Cork and the rest of the company since 1987, and recommended its application in Shannon.