Labour Court recommends changes to Aer Lingus staff conditions

The Labour Court recommended changes to Aer Lingus staff conditions after a dispute over collective agreements and the company’s proposed Programme for Continuous Improvement. The recommendation, dated 5 March 2007, followed a dispute with the Services Industrial Professional Technical Union, Aer Lingus Craft Group and Irish Municipal, Public and Civil Trade Union. The Court found that Aer Lingus had acted inconsistently with the spirit and letter of its agreements by changing conditions for new and existing staff without union agreement. It also concluded that the company’s circumstances warranted cost savings and efficiencies. Its recommendations included reducing annual leave for some staff, changes to public holiday and overtime arrangements, a 37.5-hour standard working week and pro-rata pension contributions for part-time staff. It also recommended further discussions on shift allowances, new staff pay and grading, and a joint forum for negotiating workplace changes. Where the changes directly caused lost earnings or holidays, the parties were to negotiate fair compensation within four weeks. The Court set no amount and said unresolved compensation issues should be referred back to it.