Labour Court recommends union representation for Aer Lingus catering workers

In 2001, the Labour Court recommended that Aer Lingus allow individual union representation for eight catering employees dismissed after the company extended probation from six months to a year. The Services Industrial Professional Technical Union said the change was made without consultation or agreement and employees received no prior disciplinary warning. Aer Lingus said performance and attendance were unsatisfactory, and that employees could appeal; two were reinstated after appeals. The Court said some employees may have been disadvantaged by the longer probation period and recommended union representation in relation to their dismissals. The recommendation was signed on 28 June 2001.