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Labour Court to intervene in pilots' pay dispute

PA Media Four sheep eating grass in the foreground of the photo, with an Aer Lingus plane in the background at Dublin AirportPA Media
The pilots' union started an indefinite work-to-rule at midnight on 26 June

The Republic of Ireland’s Labour Court is to formally intervene in the ongoing pay dispute between Aer Lingus and the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (Ialpa).

It follows eight-hours of fresh talks between the two sides on Monday.

The Labour Court has now informed both parties a formal hearing is to take place on Wednesday.

Pilots began an indefinite work-to-rule on 26 June in protest at the company's handling of their claim for a 24% pay increase.

About 400 flights have been cancelled up until 7 July as a result of the indefinite work-to-rule and strike action by pilots.

On Saturday, hundreds of pilots went on an eight-hour strike which resulted in the cancellation of 120 additional flights, affecting 17,000 passengers on the day.

The talks on Monday were focused on re-starting pay talks in the ongoing dispute.

PA Media One passenger and one staff member in a near empty Aer Lingus Check-in Desk area at Dublin Airport PA Media
About 400 flights have been cancelled up to 7 July

Ialpa President Capt Mark Tighe said the association had moved on its initial pay claim of 24% but claimed the company had not compromised “at all”.

“The company, not only have they indicated that they were not moving off their statements of 12.25%, anything more being financed, they also brought to the Labour Court new demands which the Labour Court have not seen before,” he said following Monday’s talks.

Donal Moriarty, Aer Lingus' chief corporate affairs officer, said the company was committed to resolving the dispute.

“Aer Lingus was open to reaching a solution using all avenues available to it for that solution,” he said.

“We outlined those details to the court and the court has determined that a formal hearing is the best next step to take.”

The Labour Court will make a formal recommendation following Wednesday’s hearing.

PA Media Three grounded aer lingus planes on the tarmac at Dublin airportPA Media
On Saturday,  hundreds of pilots went on an eight-hour strike

The Aer Lingus website has a list of flights disrupted by the strike.

It states that if your flight is affected, you will be contacted by them directly by email or SMS message.

Or, if you booked through a travel agent, they will contact you to advise you of your options.

How did we get here?

This has been a long-running dispute over pay, and there have been a lot of announcements.

But here are some of the key things that have happened so far:

  • 25 June 2024 - Separate meetings between Ireland's Labour Court and Aer Lingus and the Ialpa
  • 26 June 2024 - Pilots' indefinite work-to-rule begins. (The work-to-rule means not working overtime or carrying out any other out-of-hours duties)
  • 26 June 2024 - The airline issues an invitation for talks to Ialpa on Wednesday after pilots began their work-to-rule
  • 27 June 2024 - Talks between Ialpa and Aer Lingus to resolve the ongoing pay dispute break down without a resolution
  • 28 June 2024 - Aer Lingus confirms it is cancelling a further 122 flights, saying that due to the “indefinite nature” of Ialpa pilots’ industrial action it “must cancel” additional flights up to 7 July
  • 29 June 2024 - Pilots take part in eight hours of strike action