Ialpa Recommends Aer Lingus Pay Deal, Suspends Work-to-Rule

The Irish Air Line Pilots’ Association (Ialpa) has voted to recommend accepting the Labour Court’s pay recommendation in their long-standing dispute with Aer Lingus.

Following this decision, the pilots will suspend their work-to-rule action, which has been in effect since June 26, pending the outcome of a ballot. This move was announced by Ialpa, a branch of the Fórsa trade union, on Wednesday evening.

Ialpa president Mark Tighe described the recommended pay increase as “a significant win for pilots.” The union will now hold a series of meetings with its members before conducting a ballot on the terms in the coming week.

Aer Lingus welcomed the decision, expressing relief over the suspension of industrial action. Earlier in the week, Aer Lingus had accepted the Labour Court’s recommendation and urged pilots to do the same.

The pilots’ work-to-rule action, part of their dispute over pay, has already caused the cancellation of hundreds of flights and disrupted travel for thousands of passengers. Pilots were seeking a 24% pay rise to match inflation since their last increase, while Aer Lingus offered 12.25% with additional productivity demands. The Labour Court recommended a 17.75% pay rise.

Previous attempts to resolve the issue, both at the Labour Court and in direct talks, had failed. The Labour Court’s recommendation includes incremental pay rises starting from January 1, 2023, and ending in July 2026, along with increases in pilots’ overnight allowances.

The Labour Court emphasized the importance of finding a resolution to avoid a “very grave and unfavourable outcome” to the dispute. It also criticized both parties for focusing more on their differences than on common ground.

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