SIPTU - The Union for All Workers - Printer Friendly Style

Media reports of Aer Lingus workers' pay and conditions remain unconfirmed

 Last week the Irish Independent alleged general operatives were earning €110,000 a year and that employees take up to 20 days sick leave in a year.

“SIPTU wrote to Aer Lingus management on foot of this report seeking confirmation of the figure of €110,000 – since any general operative earning this salary would have to be working in excess of the number of hours allowed by the working time legislation,” explained Mr. Halpenny.

“The actual position – according to Aer Lingus’ own document Programme for Continuous Improvement – PCI-07 – is that general operatives earn on average €33,000 a year or €43,000 including shift premium, rostered duty allowances, Bank Holiday premium and overtime.

“SIPTU also asked management for confirmation of details in the report that employees take up to 20 days sick leave in a year.  Sick leave was not mentioned at all in PCI-07 so we are at a loss therefore to understand how or why this issue is surfacing at this time.

“For the record - other conditions of employment – contained in PCI-07 – show that annual leave – for all grades except aircrew - is 20 days per year, rising to 24 after 10 years’ service and 26 after 20 years’ service.  Overtime is similar to competitive norms - time and a half and double time as appropriate.

Shift premium and rostered duty allowances are on average 17% of basic pay for clerical employees and on average 26% for operative grades.

“Staff costs in Aer Lingus in general have in fact reduced over time.  According to our calculation of data contained in the Aer Lingus IPO Prospectus Part XII, in 2005 staff costs as a proportion of total costs were 30%.  In 2006 staff costs had dropped significantly to 26%.

“The current proposals put forward by management entail reductions for new and existing staff across the board.  The situation is compounded by a glaring breach of agreements and commitments signed off at the highest level in the airline just a few short months ago.

“We have attempted to deal with these breaches of agreement by management on four occasions over the last three weeks by way of referral to Labour Relations Commission on January 19; the National Implementation Body on January 26; the Labour Court on February 7, (management refused to go); the Labour Relations Commission and the Labour Court under the provisions of the national agreement Towards 2016, on February 9, (management refused to go),” he concluded.