Industrial action at Aer Lingus to affect flights

Aer Lingus flights on Friday face severe disruption with possible cancellations as industrial unrest again hits the Irish carrier.

Only two weeks after reaching agreement on pay and conditions with its 1,600 cabins crew, 3,000 operatives and clerical staff are downing tools because they want the same deal.

And they warned the company unless it concedes they will also strike on

Friday April 6 and again on Thursday April 12 at the start of the busy

Easter weekend.

The unrest could not have come at a worse time for the airline which has seen bookings nosedive because of the foot and mouth crisis in Ireland and the UK.

At the height of the cabin crew row in February they stopped work for a day resulting in all Aer Lingus flights being grounded which cost the company several million pounds in lost revenue.

Four months ago the 3,000 employees at the centre of the new dispute accepted pay increases of about 20pc after a series of short stoppages.

But they warned if any other workers secured a better deal they would be back for more.

Now Aer Lingus says the operatives and clerical staff are demanding new pay rises of between IR£2,000 and IR£4,000 each.