FULL RECOMMENDATION
SECTION 26(1), INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS ACT, 1990 PARTIES : AER LINGUS - AND - F�RSA DIVISION : Chairman: Mr Foley Employer Member: Ms Connolly Worker Member: Ms Tanham |
1. Cabin Crew Productivity Agenda - LCR21560
BACKGROUND:
2. This dispute relates to LCR21560 and to the aspect of that Recommendation that relates to productivity negotiations. It relates to the crewing ratio on A330 aircraft. The dispute could not be resolved at local level and was the subject of a Conciliation Conference under the auspices of the Workplace Relations Commission. As agreement was not reached, the dispute was referred to the Labour Court on 8 November 2018 in accordance with Section 26(1) of the Industrial Relations Act, 1990.
A Labour Court hearing took place on 22 January 2019.
UNION’S ARGUMENTS:
3. 1. The Union argues that the crewing ratio that currently exists remained unchanged even when Aer Lingus was at its most challenged over recent years.
2. This is an exciting time for Aer Lingus, increasing its fleet numbers, opening up to new destinations and profits at an all-time high in the history of the Company. There is no financial need for this radical change in order for it to remain competitive.
EMPLOYER'S ARGUMENTS:
4. 1. The Employer argues that the current crewing ratio is not competitive or necessary and that its continuation may jeopardise the airline's future growth.
2.The Employer says that it has been unable to meet the resource demand which the current crewing ratio drives and that this will become, operationally more challenging over the coming years.
RECOMMENDATION:
The Court has given very careful consideration to the written and oral submissions of the parties. This matter comes before the Court in the context of the Court’s earlier Recommendation LCR21560 wherein the Court recommended basic pay increases and further recommended engagement on productivity matters which, if agreed, could result in further pay adjustments based on a sharing of the benefits of those productivity measures. It is in this context that the Court has addressed this matter.
The parties have indicated that the only matter before the Court is a dispute as regards a proposed change to the crewing ratio on A330 aircraft. Currently the agreed crewing ratio is eight personnel made up of a Cabin Services Manager (CSM), three Senior Cabin Crew (SCCM) and four Cabin Crew Members (CCM). The company proposes the introduction of a crewing ratio made up of eight personnel made up of a CSM, one SCCM and five CCM’s.
The Court has listened carefully to the parties’ views on safety. The Court has had detail put before it as regards the regulation of safety and the company has asserted that no regulatory safety issues underlie the within dispute.
The Court has also received submissions on the matter of promotional opportunity for cabin crew and has been provided with projections for fleet growth over the coming years in that context.
In the context of the parties’ acceptance of LCR21560 and taking the submissions of both parties into account the Court recommends as follows:
•That the parties agree a crewing ratio of 1:2:5 for A330 aircraft.
The Court so recommends
Signed on behalf of the Labour Court
Kevin Foley
CC______________________
5 February 2019Chairman
NOTE
Enquiries concerning this Recommendation should be addressed to Ceola Cronin, Court Secretary.