Aer Lingus cabin crew at Manchester Airport will stage additional walkouts in November after rejecting a pay offer they say fails to address low wages.
From: internationalairportreview.com
Passengers travelling through Manchester Airport (MAN) face further disruption next month as Aer Lingus cabin crew escalate their strike action in a continuing dispute over pay and working conditions.
Unite the union confirmed that around 130 Aer Lingus UK cabin crew, all based at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2, will stage additional walkouts on 9 to 11 November, 14 November and 16 to 18 November. These dates come on top of the previously announced strikes from 30 October to 2 November.
The industrial action follows the rejection of a pay deal offering a nine per cent rise this year and a further three per cent next year. Unite has described the offer as inadequate, arguing that low base salaries mean staff are struggling to make ends meet despite headline pay increases.
According to the union, the starting salary for Manchester-based cabin crew is £17,640.25, which Unite says falls below the minimum wage. By contrast, Aer Lingus cabin crew based in Ireland start on €29,833.26, equivalent to about £8,249 more than their UK counterparts.
Unite also highlighted that the cost of living in Manchester is not substantially lower than in Dublin, with both cities facing high rents and living costs. Some crew members have reportedly taken on second jobs to pay bills and cover essentials.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“It is outrageous that cabin crew working for such a profitable airline are struggling on such low wages and cannot afford the basics.
Any strike action will be hugely disruptive to these routes, but the additional action is entirely the fault of Aer Lingus who have consistently put profits over people during this dispute. Unite will back our members at the airline every step of the way.”
Aer Lingus, which last year recorded an operating profit of €205 million, is the Irish flag carrier and part of the International Airlines Group (IAG). The union said the airline expects to make around £35 million in profit from just two aircraft operating three long-haul routes from Manchester – Barbados, New York JFK and Orlando – the same routes served by the striking crew.
Pay disparity and allowances under fire
The union has also raised concerns over disparities in down-route allowances paid to Irish and UK-based staff for expenses such as food, taxis and supplies while working abroad. Irish cabin crew receive $171 per night for all US destinations, while UK-based crew receive $111 for Orlando and $115 for New York, despite staying in the same hotels.
Unite is calling on Aer Lingus to both improve its overall pay offer and end what it describes as “unjustified inequality” between Irish and UK staff.
Airline accused of strike-busting tactics
Ahead of the planned walkouts, Unite accused Aer Lingus of “strike busting tactics” including changes to crew rosters, repositioning aircraft and leasing crew from other operators to minimise disruption. The union said these measures were “costly and unnecessary”, claiming the expense of avoiding strikes exceeds the cost of settling the dispute.
Unite regional officer John O’Neill said:
“All our members are seeking from Aer Lingus is a recognition of the hard work they do and being able to have a standard of living that doesn’t require struggling to get by or taking on multiple jobs to afford essentials.
Each time management chooses to spend money fighting its own employees rather than resolving the issue, they push the cost higher and delay the inevitable outcome – a fair deal for Aer Lingus UK cabin crew.
Aer Lingus can avoid this further action by investing some of its profits back into its hardworking staff and coming back to the negotiating table.”
Aer Lingus operates multiple daily services from Manchester Airport, including direct flights to Dublin, New York, Orlando and Barbados. Passengers booked on upcoming Aer Lingus flights are advised to check directly with the airline for the latest travel updates as strike dates approach.
From: internationalairportreview.com
Passengers travelling through Manchester Airport (MAN) face further disruption next month as Aer Lingus cabin crew escalate their strike action in a continuing dispute over pay and working conditions.
Unite the union confirmed that around 130 Aer Lingus UK cabin crew, all based at Manchester Airport’s Terminal 2, will stage additional walkouts on 9 to 11 November, 14 November and 16 to 18 November. These dates come on top of the previously announced strikes from 30 October to 2 November.
The industrial action follows the rejection of a pay deal offering a nine per cent rise this year and a further three per cent next year. Unite has described the offer as inadequate, arguing that low base salaries mean staff are struggling to make ends meet despite headline pay increases.
According to the union, the starting salary for Manchester-based cabin crew is £17,640.25, which Unite says falls below the minimum wage. By contrast, Aer Lingus cabin crew based in Ireland start on €29,833.26, equivalent to about £8,249 more than their UK counterparts.
Unite also highlighted that the cost of living in Manchester is not substantially lower than in Dublin, with both cities facing high rents and living costs. Some crew members have reportedly taken on second jobs to pay bills and cover essentials.
Unite general secretary Sharon Graham said:
“It is outrageous that cabin crew working for such a profitable airline are struggling on such low wages and cannot afford the basics.
Any strike action will be hugely disruptive to these routes, but the additional action is entirely the fault of Aer Lingus who have consistently put profits over people during this dispute. Unite will back our members at the airline every step of the way.”
Aer Lingus, which last year recorded an operating profit of €205 million, is the Irish flag carrier and part of the International Airlines Group (IAG). The union said the airline expects to make around £35 million in profit from just two aircraft operating three long-haul routes from Manchester – Barbados, New York JFK and Orlando – the same routes served by the striking crew.
Pay disparity and allowances under fire
The union has also raised concerns over disparities in down-route allowances paid to Irish and UK-based staff for expenses such as food, taxis and supplies while working abroad. Irish cabin crew receive $171 per night for all US destinations, while UK-based crew receive $111 for Orlando and $115 for New York, despite staying in the same hotels.
Unite is calling on Aer Lingus to both improve its overall pay offer and end what it describes as “unjustified inequality” between Irish and UK staff.
Airline accused of strike-busting tactics
Ahead of the planned walkouts, Unite accused Aer Lingus of “strike busting tactics” including changes to crew rosters, repositioning aircraft and leasing crew from other operators to minimise disruption. The union said these measures were “costly and unnecessary”, claiming the expense of avoiding strikes exceeds the cost of settling the dispute.
Unite regional officer John O’Neill said:
“All our members are seeking from Aer Lingus is a recognition of the hard work they do and being able to have a standard of living that doesn’t require struggling to get by or taking on multiple jobs to afford essentials.
Each time management chooses to spend money fighting its own employees rather than resolving the issue, they push the cost higher and delay the inevitable outcome – a fair deal for Aer Lingus UK cabin crew.
Aer Lingus can avoid this further action by investing some of its profits back into its hardworking staff and coming back to the negotiating table.”
Aer Lingus operates multiple daily services from Manchester Airport, including direct flights to Dublin, New York, Orlando and Barbados. Passengers booked on upcoming Aer Lingus flights are advised to check directly with the airline for the latest travel updates as strike dates approach.