Bríd Smith on Aer Lingus cancellations and pilot pay row
Bríd Smith addressed the Aer Lingus dispute after the airline announced a further 76 cancelled flights, on top of 392 already cancelled, as pilots and management entered the Labour Court. She criticised senior executive pay and argued pilots deserve inflation-related pay increases while urging both sides to find a compromise.
Flight cancellations and Labour Court
Bríd Smith noted the additional 76 cancelled flights and said this was on top of 392 already cancelled, describing the disruption, uncertainty and confusion caused by the dispute. She referenced IALPA and the company going into the Labour Court and stressed the importance of allowing the Court process to proceed.
Executive pay and pilot pay demands
She highlighted that CEO Lynne Elberton received 300,000 euro in shares and that three senior executives were paid 2.8 million euro in 2022, saying those figures will be felt by pilots seeking pay in line with inflation. She described pilots as "some of the most responsible workers in the world" and argued they deserve inflation-related pay increases to manage the cost of living.
Public opinion and disruption
Bríd Smith pointed to a Red Sea poll showing 38% of people favour the strikers and said that indicated broad sympathy for workers seeking inflation-related rises, while also acknowledging that few people welcome strike action. She said most people want an end to the disruption and expressed awareness of the public impact.
Appeal for engagement and compromise
She thanked both parties for attending Labour Court and thanked the Court for intervening, urging both sides to "dig deep" and find a solution. She said the only way an industrial relations dispute is resolved is through engagement and compromise and encouraged a settlement that avoids further chaos for the travelling public.
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Maagodh, Ceann Coorle. Thaiseach Aer Lingus announced today that it's cancelling a further 76 flights and that's on top of 392 already cancelled and I don't think anybody, anybody welcomes the disruption, the uncertainty or the confusion that this dispute has caused but at the same time while the two sides, IALPA and the company, go into the Labour Court today we learn that Lynne Elberton, the CEO, received 300,000 euro in shares and that's on top of a whopping 2.8 million paid to three top brass in 2022, they'll have received much more last year. Now can you imagine how a group of the most responsible workers in the world who take us safely into the air, keep us up there safe, land us safe, feel when they hear those kind of figures, when they are looking for a figure that will keep their pay in line with inflation and to be honest I believe the pilots are doing us all a service because all workers deserve inflation related pay increases. To manage the cost of living and to be able to stay on top of the rises that are happening. So despite the disruption, would you not agree with me that when the Red Sea poll shows 38% of people, the majority of people favour the strikers, that that indicates that all workers deserve an inflation related pay rise? But look, I doubt there are very many people in this country at all who favour strike action and I think most people, as you've said, want to see an end to the disruption. I'm very conscious, Keown Corlep, that I think the least helpful thing anyone in this House, most of all me could do, is wade right into this while there's Labour Court hearings underway today. There's a huge amount of work that has gone in to get to this point. I thank both parties for agreeing to attend, I thank the Labour Court for agreeing to intervene, and all I'll say at this stage is to really encourage both sides to dig deep, to find a solution. The only way an industrial relations dispute is resolved is two things, engagement and compromise. It's up to both parties to decide whether they wish to bring about a resolution now, which will always end in engagement or compromise, or whether they wish to put the travelling public through more chaos. I certainly hope it's the first. Deputy Noir Greatest...
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