The threatened closure of the Aer Lingus cabin crew base at Shannon Airport could be averted.
Reports this morning say proposals have emerged from Labour Relations Commission talks between staff and the airline, postponing the threat of industrial action.
Aer Lingus had announced the closure of its Shannon cabin crew base, which employs 86 staff, after failing to reach agreement with workers on staffing arrangements for new transatlantic services.
They then hired sub-contracted an outside firm to fulfil these duties. However, the deal struck at the LRC at around 5 o’clock this morning, on the fourth day of talks, would retain the base and see Aer Lingus’ own employees man the aircraft.
The former flag carrier had wanted four cabin crew to man the flights to the US, while unions said five was required.
Under the deal, five crew will work some flights until March to facilitate training.
From then on, this will reduce to four, with increased pay for those staff, and the situation will be reviewed in July.
The cabin crew committee of the workers’ union IMPACT will meet at lunchtime to consider the proposals.
