Aer Arann engineers threaten industrial action over extra night work requirements

SIPTU Union's Civil Aviation Branch, representing Aer Arann's engineers, stated it is set to serve notice of industrial action on the airline after claiming that up to 50 workers are being instructed to work extra nights for no additional reward and following a minimum 7% pay reduction (Irish Independent, 17-Mar-2010). The union claims that the engineers' night allowance of EUR1,500 p/a is one of the lowest rates in the aviation industry; it argues the increased workload has occurred due to extra work and new shift arrangements as a result of a new franchise agreement between Aer Lingus and Aer Arann, branded as Aer Lingus Regional, and operated using Aer Arann aircraft and crew. In a separate dispute, a union for 230 cabin crew at Aer Lingus who face compulsory redundancy has revealed it is not considering a ballot for industrial action at the present time.