Aer Lingus dispute worsens in row over sharing workers' personal details

Martin Frawley

Aer Lingus pilots have now threatened to come out in support of their cabin crew colleagues

The row between Aer Lingus and its cabin crew intensified yesterday when the Impact trade union asked the data protection commissioner to investigate the airline for giving personal details, including mobile phone numbers, to a courier company it used to deliver dismissal threats to staff. In a separate development, pilots threatened to come out in support of their cabin crew colleagues.

The dispute over new rosters, which the union claims are incompatible with family life for the predominantly female cabin crew, grounded over 30 flights in the earlier part of the week affecting around 3,000 passengers. However, a spokesman for Aer Lingus said he was confident that it would be able to provide a full service for the remainder of the weekend and into next week.

"There will always be the situation where the odd flight may have to be cancelled but we are confident we will source more aircraft in the week ahead to provide a full service," said the Aer Lingus spokesman.

The airline has refused to say how much it has spent on hiring aircraft. "Whatever the cost it is cheaper in the long run than cancelling flights and losing customers," said the spokesman.

An Impact spokesman accused the company of trying to frighten the cabin crew into submission by threatening to sack staff who refused to work the new rosters.

The union spokesman said there is now a difference of only 20 flight hours a year – less than half an hour a week – between the two sides and that a resolution would be possible if the company was prepared to come to the table.

The union says cabin crew have agreed rosters which would get them up to 830 flight hours a year but it says the schedules imposed by management to get that up to the agreed 850 flight hours a year are unworkable and do not provide for a reasonable work-life balance.

These include a reduction in meal breaks, three hours' notice of a change of hours, and the possibility that crew could be forced to work away from base for 26 days at a time.

The airline said if some cabin crew find the new rosters do not fit in with their lifestyle than maybe it's time to part ways.

So far close to 150 cabin crew have been taken off the payroll and more are expected to follow.

January 23, 2011

Comments

#1 Maui Pete commented, on January 23, 2011 at 9:16 p.m.:

Aer Lingus, so used to coddling from the government, is on the verge of implosion. Management knows it and is doing what it can to run the company back to profit. Staff would well remember that the alternative to doing what they are duty bound to do - follow managements wishes for the good of the company - is to be unemployed or worse, work for Ryan Air. Employees - be grateful for your jobs while you have them.

#2 mh commented, on January 24, 2011 at 10:45 p.m.:

It appears the working conditions are against the law. In fairness to the workers they have family responsibilities and it may be impossible for them to work the rosters. I believe they have already taken pay cuts etc. Fair is fair when you treat staff well it comes back to you. Compromise is always a good thing to get things resolved and hold on to valuable workers with experience. I like travelling Aer Lingus definitely better than Ryanair and I would travel Aer Lingus even if it was dearer because their planes are cleaner comfier and cabin crew much nicer and professional. Society and the laws should value family values and being able to give proper care and attention to our children whilst working. I would be very disappointed tohear that Aer Lingus who I hold in great regard would walk all over its caring professional cabin crew. Its time for both sides to work out a solution and continue to provide a much better service in my view than ryanair who treat their staff indifferently.

#3 FARRELL commented, on January 25, 2011 at 7:22 a.m.:

I remember working on the A/Craft maintenance crew on nights for Ryanair at Dublin Airport in the early eighties. Ryanair was only in its infancy then,but I will never forget how we were treated like lepers by the Aer Lingus people when we tried to use the Aer Rianta canteen. even the Aer Rianta people were as bad. After all Aer Lingus owned the airport. Didn't they? How things have changed.

#4 Mary commented, on January 25, 2011 at 7:52 a.m.:

If you decide to have a family they become your responsibility not your employers. Perhaps the job isn't compatible with family life.

#5 Carlyle in Mass. commented, on January 26, 2011 at 3:38 p.m.:

In America several crew have complained that AL has shared there personal/work information with other crew members. Unprofessional to say the least

#6 joe commented, on January 27, 2011 at 1:10 a.m.:

In most countries if you don't want to do your job or don't like it then you move on, retrain or move company.
Ireland is plagued with union activity that reduces job mobility and creativity.
Yes air travel is hard and demanding - maybe those that can no longer hack it need to find a physically less demanding position.

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