A source close to the company has told the Sunday Tribune that there will "definitely not be a softening of approach coming from management in the near future".

Late last week, the Aer Lingus Craft Group of Trade Unions (ALCGTU) announced it was to ballot its members on industrial action, saying the semi-state company is falling under the influence of Ryanair boss Michael O'Leary.

"He [O'Leary] may not be in control of Aer Lingus yet but their current board have adopted his tactics, " said Brian Gormley, chairman of the ALCGTU, .

Speaking to the Sunday Tribune, Gormley accused management at the national airline of reneging on previous agreements with unions to settle the fears of shareholders and was particularly critical of CEO Dermot Mannion.

"We thought we had a chief executive who we respected. I'm afraid that's no longer the case. He was going around congratulating us when the staff blocked the Ryanair's takeover. He has since turned around and basically torn up our agreements. At least Michael O'Leary was honest about his intentions for the staff." he said.

Aer Lingus will not be responding to the development, but re-iterating that in some critical areas the company's costs are out of line with competitors.

Changes for staff include reduced shift-time work and more roll-over temporary contracts which the unions say will cost their members, Euro5,000 a year.

The union says it cannot engage with the Aer Lingus management as they are imposing new contracts that contravene earlier deals.

"Its all coming from board-room level. They are looking to get costs down any way possible and seem to be scared, " said Gormley.

The ALCGTU is set to ballot its members on industrial action this week and all indications suggest that members will endorse the motion.

The issue at stake is the refusal by Aer Lingus to withdraw new contracts of employment that in the words of the union undermine existing terms and conditions of employment.

"They came to us with new contracts on the 23 January and said we had to accept them by 1 February, " he said.