Vol. 530 No. 3
28 Mr. Higgins (Mayo) asked the Minister for Public Enterprise the number of industrial relations disputes within Aer Lingus in the past six months; the various groups within the company which engaged in industrial action; the number of days lost; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [3824/01]
Over the past year, Aer Lingus management has been negotiating with all sections of the workforce, either through direct talks or using the State industrial relations mechanisms in relation to claims on pay, pensions and working conditions.
A number of these claims involving clericals, operatives, including baggage handlers, catering staff and cleaning staff, pilots and cabin crew have given rise to disputes which resulted in industrial action being taken. The industrial action has varied from two hour stoppages by certain sections to the 24 hour stoppages on 17 October 2000 and 7 February 2001 which led to the suspension of Aer Lingus services. Aer Lingus has estimated that a total of 3,810 man days – I suppose that should be person days – have been lost due to these various stoppages.
Significant progress has been made in relation to a number of these disputes as follows. Clerical staff accepted a Labour Court recommendation in November 2000 and the proposals are being implemented by Aer Lingus. A Labour Court recommendation on a general claim by the operatives group – catering staff, baggage handlers and cleaning staff – was accepted on 14 December 2000.
On that date, baggage handlers also accepted a package put forward by the company in response to a local claim. Local talks on flexibility are continuing with catering and cleaning staff. In relation to the pilots, direct talks with the company are ongoing.
As the House is aware, the 24-hour stoppage on Wednesday last, 7 February, related to cabin crew represented by IMPACT who had rejected the Labour Court recommendation. Representatives of the National Implementation Body established under the renewed terms of the PPF met that evening with representatives of IMPACT. They conveyed their concern at the implications of the industrial action in Aer Lingus and the reported plans for further action in the context of the commitment to industrial peace and stability in the PPF.
Following a request from the implementation body, both Aer Lingus and the union agreed to return to the Labour Court. The Labour Court was requested to facilitate them in reaching agreement on as many items as possible in direct discussion, and to make a recommendation on those issues on which agreement is not reached. A meeting of the parties was convened on Thursday, 8 February 2000 and I understand talks are continuing and are taking place at present. Following rejection of the Labour Court recommendation by cabin crew staff of SIPTU, that union is also now involved in the latest Labour Court initiative.
Additional Information
The National Implementation Body also requested IBEC and ICTU to assist the parties in reaching a resolution to that dispute. I am very much aware of and regret the effects of these disputes on Aer Lingus customers and on the tourism and business sectors in the economy. I would urge all parties in dispute to make every effort to resolve their differences in order that the future viability of Aer Lingus is sustained.
(Mayo): I welcome the Minister back to the House. We all have the utmost sympathy for her and her family on their great personal loss. Our thoughts re-echo the sentiments expressed so profoundly here on the occasion of Enda's passing.
Will the Minister agree, despite the settlements in relation to certain elements within Aer Lingus that the current situation is totally untenable, that what we are witnessing here is the national air carrier self-destructing and that we cannot have a situation where flights will be delayed and cancelled and 18,000 to 20,000 passengers abandoned, at a loss of £2 million per day every time this happens? The company and the unions need to get their act together to try to resolve the matter once and for all.
I thank the Deputy for his comments and all Members who have communicated with me or thought of me. It is very difficult. We all have jobs to do and I understand that, that is why I am here today. Also, a Cheann Comhairle, if I may say a few words, because I will not be referring to it again, I was very heartened and drew solace from the fact that on the day Enda died the Leaders of the parties here, through your good offices, spoke about the matter and paid tribute. I thank them for that as well. I genuinely mean that. It meant a great deal to me. I read the "blacks" and they gave me solace.
With regard to what the Deputy said, I note from the background notes what was going on last week as I did not follow it that much. The National Implementation Body has also requested IBEC and ICTU to assist the parties and has requested the parties to refrain from public comment pending resolution of the dispute. I want to obey that request if I can, but yet we are in Dáil Éireann and obviously questions must be answered. I am very much aware of and regret the effects of these disputes on Aer Lingus customers and on the tourism and business sectors in the economy. I urge all parties in dispute to continue the talks with a view to reaching a solution. It is a serious matter that the national airline carrier has reached the state it is now in. I hope the good will that appears to permeate the talks will continue to the benefit of all in the process.
(Mayo): At this juncture and given the sequence of industrial actions which have disrupted the company and its operations, does the Minister see any prospect in the foreseeable future of the flotation of Aer Lingus? The Bill has gone through the Seanad but has been put on hold because of the current situation. While there is an implementation body in existence the Minister put in place the three wise men to examine the Iarnród Éireann operation. Thankfully there is peace and tranquillity pro tem, at least. Would the Minister consider the prospect of such an intervention being useful in the case of Aer Lingus to see whether they can pull the different factions together and introduce some kind of a formula or prescription to ensure the carrier can continue to provide the service to which the general public is entitled and which it has received in the past but, unfortunately, has been so badly derailed in recent months?
In reply to the question about the three wise men, the National Implementation Body was set up when the PPF was renegotiated and is working hard, doing its best to resolve this dispute. The Deputy asked how I felt about the tenor and conduct of the present negotiations. I hope the goodwill which has entered the negotiations will continue and that there will be a reasonable and proper resolution.
