Aer Lingus Dispute Hardens

The threatened work stoppage by Aer Lingus ground staff next week looks to become more serious than initially planned. Aer Lingus has issued a press release that "the company will engage directly with staff" (i.e. bypass the unions) and that CEO Dermot Mannion will be available to "underline the importance for the airline that all services operate as normal next week."

The press release also contains the assertive passage that "Aer Lingus will not tolerate action that will discommode its customers and sees no legitimate reason why services will not operate next week."

While all this sounds very strong, Ireland's flag carrier is actually in a weak position concerning possible interruptions - if ground workers do not turn up, the planes won't load themselves, will they? In a related flexing of corporate muscles Aer Lingus management also a threatened to suspend any employee who does not give a written undertaking to work as normal next week.

There could never have been any serious doubt that employees would see this as a giant gauntlet thrown by the employer. As indeed they did, around 2,000 ground staff are still planning four-hour stoppages on next week's Tuesday and Friday. Representing those workers, trade union SIPTU says it now will consult with other unions. Asking them not to cross the SIPTU picket lines - which would culminate in an all-out strike and the effective grounding of all Aer Lingus flights.

Where does this all leave the customer, the passenger ... you and me? Stranded - at the moment regarding any travel planning, next week more than likely literally at an airport near (or not so near) you. Then again the last strike threatened at Aer Lingus was called off in the eleventh hour, but with a major dent in the Irish airline's credibility regarding customer service. Learning from that experience it might be prudent to start contacting Aer Lingus directly regarding changes to your booking.

Photo © 2007 Bernd Biege licensed to About.com, Inc.