Aer Lingus Belfast flights would not be hit by strike
10.10.08
Proposed strike action by staff at Aer Lingus may not ground flights from the newly opened Belfast International Airport 'hub', the airline has said
The reassurance follows the announcement by Siptu, the largest union at the Irish flag carrier, that it is to ballot for all-out industrial action in the event that the airline tries to impose cuts and up to 1500 job redundancies through outsourcing and redeployment. The Impact union has also said it will oppose the cost-saving plan, which it described as ‘severe and draconian’, and said it would begin consulting with members on their reaction.
The airline's plans - which were announced on Monday - include outsourcing ground operations, cargo and catering services at Dublin and ground operations at Cork. Up to 280 jobs could be lost at Shannon, where ground and cargo services will be outsourced and cabin crews axed. US-based staff will also be hired to work on board long-haul services from America, and just under 20 cabin crew workers based at Heathrow Airport will be affected by the move.
However, Aer Lingus insisted that its Belfast passengers would be unaffected. The new base - opened last December - is being staffed under different arrangements to its other bases with the dispute seeing the airline attempting to replicate staffing arrangements it already has in place at the Belfast airport at its bases in Dublin, Cork and Shannon.
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