Aer Lingus pilots double down on strike ballot

The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), which represents almost 800 pilots at Aer Lingus, said it’s now consulting its umbrella union, Fórsa, to consider the next steps it will take.

The union said its pilots are now “more determined than ever” to secure their near 24pc pay claim.

A fresh ballot took place over the weekend, with the results having been counted on Monday afternoon.

The airline employs almost 800 pilots who are seeking a near 24pc pay rise. Such a hike would see the most senior captains at the carrier get a near €50,000 a year pay rise and bring their basic annual pay to €256,000.

When other elements such as long service increments and flight pay are factored in, it could see those most senior pilots earn as much as €349,000 a year. The most senior pilots at the airline receive a huge pension contribution from the carrier as part of that overall package, with a mammoth 21pc of their salary contributed by Aer Lingus to their pension pots.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - June 17th

The ballot by pilots had to be retaken over the weekend for technical reasons after a previous electronic ballot was questioned by Aer Lingus. The Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) said that rather than battle Aer Lingus in the courts on the validity of the first ballot, it would move immediately to undertake a paper-based ballot.

Ialpa president Captain Mark Tighe said the result of the second ballot was “an incredible reaffirmation of our mandate for industrial action in pursuit of a meaningful pay offer”.

He said: “It is unconscionable that an employer would attempt to undermine our members’ democratic and constitutional right to vote for industrial action. The effect of Aer Lingus management’s intervention last week has served only to further antagonise pilots. They are now more determined than ever.”

“This ballot has reaffirmed the commitment of our members to stand up to management.”

Captain Tighe added: “Our pay claim of 23.8pc is to ensure that pilots’ pay has the same purchasing power as it did in 2019 and reflects the enormous increase in profits enjoyed by Aer Lingus.”

“Ialpa is now consulting with our colleagues in Fórsa to determine our next steps,” he said.

The Labour Court issued an interim recommendation last month that would have seen the pilots receive a 9.25pc pay increase. That proposal was accepted by Aer Lingus but overwhelmingly ­rejected by pilots.

Aer Lingus has offered 12.25pc.

The proposal by the carrier included 3.75pc to pay for a 2019 crewing agreement. Ialpa’s proposal put to the ­Labour Court included just under a 24pc pay increase, with almost all of it backdated from 2022 to March this year and the outstanding amount pencilled in from next year.

An independent Pilot Pay Tribunal last year recommended a 12.25pc ­increase in consolidated pay and a 1.5pc rise in unconsolidated pay for the pilots.

Reacting to the vote Aer Lingus said industrial action would be entirely unnecessary and would result in significant disruption to the airline’s customers and to other employees.

“IALPA have rejected the outcomes of two independent processes which have sought to resolve the issue of pilot pay in Aer Lingus – the Pilot Pay Tribunal Report and the interim recommendation of the Labour Court. Following these rejections by IALPA, Aer Lingus has offered to continue to engage in meaningful direct discussions with IALPA and to request the support of the Workplace Relations Commission in order to further explore solutions. As of now, both of these offers have been rejected by IALPA,” the airline said.

Any industrial action by Aer Lingus pilots would not affect Aer Lingus Regional routes, which are operated by another company.