Aer Lingus today rejected a union’s call for strike action in a row over pensions as “completely unreasonable and unacceptable”.
The airline was responding to the Irish Services Industrial Professional and Technical Union (SIPTU) threatening a ballot for industrial action at Dublin and Shannon airports.
“Aer Lingus simply cannot accede to SIPTU’s demands because this would require Aer Lingus to breach its legal obligations,” the airline said.
The union has reportedly said there will be no industrial disruption to flights before Christmas.
Aer Lingus called on all parties “to engage constructively” in the long-running dispute but warned that it may be forced to take legal action against the union over any losses likely to be incurred by a walkout.
The carrier said SIPTU’s demands come only days after Aer Lingus “unilaterally agreed in good faith” to pay a 2013 incremental pay increase to assist in advancing the proposed pension solution.
The row centres on the Irish Aviation Superannuation Scheme (IASS), of which staff at Aer Lingus and the Dublin Airport Authority are members, and which has a €780 million shortfall. It has brought workers at the two organisations close to strike over the last year.