Sign in Subscribe
Airports

Aer Lingus Cabin Crew to Strike Over Pay Dispute, Causing Travel Disruption at Manchester Airport

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Passengers traveling through Manchester Airport may face disruptions as Aer Lingus cabin crew, represented by Unite the Union, plan to go on strike in a dispute over pay. The strike action, scheduled for October 30 to November 2, follows a vote in which 90% of workers chose to take industrial action. The dispute centers around pay, with crew members struggling to afford basic necessities due to low base salaries. Aer Lingus, which operates several flights daily from Manchester's Terminal 2 to destinations including Dublin, Boston, and Barbados, has been accused of prioritizing profits over people.

Key Takeaways:

  • 130 Aer Lingus cabin crew members have voted to go on strike over a pay dispute, with 90% of workers choosing to take industrial action.
  • The dispute centers around low base salaries, with crew members struggling to afford housing and bills, and many taking up second jobs or working overtime to make ends meet.
  • Aer Lingus is a profitable airline, recording an operating profit of €205m last year, while its top executives earned nearly €2.8m in core director remuneration.
  • Crew based in Manchester have lower flying allowances than their colleagues in Dublin, with the union rejecting a US overnight allowance increase of $15.
  • Aer Lingus plans to run flights with non-union members to Dublin from Manchester, and then to its long-haul destinations, which may cause further disruption to passengers.
  • Unite the Union's general secretary, Sharon Graham, has accused the airline of prioritizing profits over people and using union-busting tactics.
  • Unite regional officer John O'Neill has urged Aer Lingus to return to the negotiating table with a better offer to address the pay dispute.

Statistics:

  • €205m: Aer Lingus' operating profit last year.
  • €2.8m: Core director remuneration paid to the airline's top executives last year.
  • 130: Number of Aer Lingus cabin crew members who have voted to go on strike.
  • 90%: Percentage of crew members who voted in favor of taking industrial action.
  • $15: Incremental increase in US overnight allowance offered by Aer Lingus.
  • $130: Current US overnight allowance for Aer Lingus crew members.

Sources:

  • "Cabin crew at Aer Lingus vote to strike over pay dispute"

- Unite the Union press release.

Read more