Aer Lingus Gives Nod to Labor Settlement
Irish pilots union Impact, and management at Irish government-owned airline Aer Lingus, agreed yesterday to listen to recommendations by Ireland's Labor Relations Commission in order to end a labor dispute that has many in Ireland?s important tourist industry warning about potential damage to the country?s economy. The Commission?s recommendations would require pilots to abide by most of the company?s post-9/11 financial survival plan, but would scale back the more intense flight schedule?required of pilots under the plan?that led to a one-day strike last Thursday (see WIT for May 30, 2002). Although Aer Lingus management accepted the Commission?s proposal later yesterday, Impact has not yet agreed to the recommendations and management has extended at least through Tuesday a grounding of all its aircraft initiated in response to the union?s one-day strike.