The Irish Times - Thursday, March 11, 2010

MARTIN WALL Industry Correspondent

All 1,200 Aer Lingus cabin crew in the Republic of Ireland are to be sent notices of termination of their employment next month and offered new contracts involving lower salary scales and changed work practices.

Following the implementation of new work practices, which will reduce its requirement for the current staffing levels, the company will cut its cabin crew workforce by around 230.

The personnel concerned are to be let go on a compulsory basis, and offered statutory redundancy terms of two weeks per year of service.

The company said the process to select the staff to be let go was continuing.

The move follows the rejection by cabin crew of the terms of a controversial €97 million cost-saving deal which involved over 600 voluntary redundancies, pay cuts and work practice changes.

Is Aer lingus becoming a worse employer than Ryan Air in terms of sacking 1200 cabin crew and re-employing all but 230 on lower rates of pay and minimum redundancy packages? I for one will not be flying Aer Lingus again

The future is minimum-wage... for everyone.

Just think its a horrible way for a national airline or any employer to treat its staff. Doesn't the government i,e, taxpayer own 25% of this company?

Its not a nice way to treat people,Aer Lingus cabin crew have always been fantastic and welcoming in every way,and the new boss is a gunterer with a track record,but the economic reality is that the company is on the ropes and needs desperate measures to survive,sadly.

It was horrific what was reported on the news. Basically, those who didnt agree to the new rules are getting the sack! Lovely!

Who says we don't need unions

All the other unions took the Aer Lingus deal. The cabin crew refused. There was a deal on the table and they took the hard line instead. Sorry but that's the way the cookie crumbles. Jack O'Connor take note.

if this had happened when the nurses went on strike there a while back, can you imagine what the outcome would have been? 'Put up or shut up' or indeed 'off to the back of the dole queue' seems to be the new policy here!

Even with these measures there still might not be an aer lingus next year, so these measures may be saving jobs. But its true it seems to be a race to the bottom.

No. The nurses have steady jobs and are paid very well yet they insist on wrecking the health service to reverse a miniscule pay cut. It's bitter, immature, vindictive and an utter disgrace.

that is such a ridiculous statement from someone who obviously does not endure their working conditions or see their pay slip after the cuts! and also under pressure from their unions!

If employers are allowed to get away with this type of bullying than its a complete race to the bottom. Most of these staff would probably now be better off on the dole Aer lingus I hope will lose customers following this crap and I dont for a minute believe that it was on the verge of bankruptcy. This is a power game by the new CEO to prove he has the balls to face unions down and no doubt this will help him to move to a better paid bigger profile air line in on the back of poorly treated employees.

Thats what I mean. I mean, I agree nurses do great work and all, but they are well paid. So seeing all that strike action really in my eyes was just asking for a kick in the arse and many of them deserved to be booted out.
But this aerlingus thing just sounds awful. The company has been in trouble a long time though. Instead of causing anger they should just throw in the towel or at least beg Micheal O Leary to help em out.
A fool is always parted from his gold as the saying goes!

It's not a power game by the new CEO. Let me explain it simply. You have €500 in your bank account. You write a cheque for €650. What do you think happens when someone goes to cash that cheque?

Aer Lingus is in bad shape. I don't think this is the end of it. You can be sure there will be a reaction to this. The staff are still in shock at present, but I reckon that will turn to anger soon and we will see trouble begin. Any industrial action will be enough to cripple the company. They are in serious financial trouble and will be doing well if this all goes smoothly.