Labour Court recommends Aer Lingus pension talks resume

The Labour Court recommended that Aer Lingus and the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union and Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union resume discussions on the company’s pension scheme. The recommendation, dated 14 February 2005, called for a review of current pension benefits. The unions sought to restart negotiations abandoned in 2001, with a replacement scheme as the aim. Aer Lingus opposed the claim, citing changed economic conditions and the costs of improving benefits. The Court noted the 2004 Aer Lingus Act allowed the company to establish a new pension scheme and recommended renewed discussions.