Aer Lingus pilots asked to accept collective bargaining agreement after industrial action ends

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IALPA has ended a go-slow strike at Irish airline Aer Lingus while pilots decide on a proposed wage agreement.

The vote on the offer will take place between July 18 and 23 and the union plans to hold talks with members before that period.

The recommendation includes a salary increase for pilots of 17.75 percent over a period of more than three years.

Captain Mark Tighe, president of the union, described the result as a “significant victory” secured “by the determination and unity” of the members.

Speaking to national broadcaster RTÉ, Tighe continued: “It’s not quite the inflation we talked about, but in two years’ time pilots will be 19.2 percent better off than before, which is already moving some way towards inflation.”

Tighe clarified that no changes to working conditions were agreed upon as part of the agreement.

IALPA’s acceptance of the offer was welcomed by Aer Lingus and also by Irish Taoiseach Simon Harris.

“This is a very positive development for the traveling public and our tourism sector. I have stressed time and again that compromise and engagement are the only way forward,” Harris said.

Strikes instigated by IALPA, which included a ban on overtime, have led to the cancellation of 573 flights since the measures began two weeks ago.

Of this total, 25 flight cancellations scheduled for Monday and Tuesday next week may not be reversible.

The pilots had originally demanded a salary increase of 23.8 percent to offset the impact of inflation on their salaries.

Aer Lingus had previously described this demand as “unsustainable”.