Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 29 May 1996

Vol. 466 No. 2

Adjournment Debate. - Aer Lingus Industrial Dispute.

Mr. T. Kitt

I ask the Minister for Enterprise and Employment to intervene in the Aer Lingus dispute which has resulted in 4,000 of its workforce being put on protective notice. There is no doubt Aer Lingus will face a period of industrial unrest of crisis proportions if this dispute goes ahead.

The background to the dispute is that SIPTU, which represents the Aer Lingus cabin crew, voted to take industrial action from Tuesday next over the issue of a Delta flag carrier operating on Aer Lingus New York flights since 1 May. Representatives of the 800 Aer Lingus cabin crew fear that the use of one Delta person on each Aer Lingus flight could lead to job losses in the short and longer term.

The proper industrial relations machinery has been used in this conflict and the Labour Relations Commission proposals, which would allow the Delta person to be on the flight but not part of the crew, combined with a review taking place in the autumn, were finally rejected by SIPTU.

It is clear that cabin crew staff suffered a great deal during the Cahill rationalisation plan and made a considerable and significant contribution towards the recovery of Aer Lingus. Currently there are considerable tensions between management and the workforce. The move by Aer Lingus management to put all 4,000 of its staff on protective notice from Friday was far too heavy-handed. Aer Lingus has managed to put an impressive business plan in place but this plan has not been successfully communicated to the staff and the human dimension of change, and its effect on the staff, needs to be addressed.

The new Delta link-up is vital for the long-term survival and development of Aer Lingus. Because of its size Aer Lingus needs a strategic partner to improve its transatlantic service. The irony is that if the Delta relationship works, and I believe it will, there will be an increased number of jobs in the company which will more than likely lead to Aer Lingus acquiring a fifth aircraft.

An all out strike in Aer Lingus would have disastrous consequences for our tourism industry and the economy in general as we head into a busy holiday period. Since industrial relations machinery has already been tried and has failed, the Minister now has no option but to intervene, behind the scenes if necessary.

The distance between the sides in this dispute is not impossible to bridge; management gave an overall guarantee today on jobs which is a positive development. The Minister should now involve himself proactively, bring an immediate end to this dispute and ensure that the company can get on with the business of increasing its market share. That will not happen unless the management takes account of the sensitivities involved in the significant changes that have and continue to take place in Aer Lingus in recent times.

The future for Aer Lingus is potentially bright and the Minister cannot afford to stand aside and allow this dispute to escalate. He should intervene now.

Minister for Enterprise and Employment (Mr. R. Bruton)

I thank Deputy Kitt for raising this issue which is not only of serious concern to the Government but also to me as a north Dublin Deputy. I am acutely conscious of the clear threat to livelihoods this dispute would pose if it escalates. The Deputy has clearly outlined the background to this dispute and some of the developments. It would not be useful for me to go over those again. It is important to recognise that both sides in the dispute agree that the strategic alliance is important to the long-term future. The difficulty has arisen in the context of implementation. That is clearly a problem which must be resolved ultimately by the two sides.

I have to part company with the Deputy when he prescribes the response to this as intervention by me, as Minister. He will recognise that we have developed extremely effective problem solving machinery for industrial disputes, both through the services of the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court. If the sides cannot through their own procedures resolve their dispute, it is necessary that they avail of the services of the Labour Relations Commission and-or the Labour Court which stands ready to assist them in any way it can.

It would not be helpful for a Minister to intervene in such a dispute. I am not adopting a new position in this regard as this approach has been taken by a number of Ministers from all sides of the House. It is tried and tested. The solution to these problems must be found between the sides. We will offer them assistance through our skilled personnel, but it is not helpful to politicise these disputes. I recognise that use has been made of the dispute settling agencies but if has been unsuccessful so far. I urge the parties to continue their efforts to find an acceptable solution and to avail of the assistance of the LRC and the Labour Court in doing so.