South East SF Senator calls for speedy resolution to Aer Lingus dispute

The Sinn Féin Senator in the South East has called for a speedy resolution to the Aer Lingus dispute. Speaking yesterday, Waterford Senator David Cullinane said;

“I regret that talks between Aer Lingus management and the Irish Airline Pilots Association have broken down without agreement. While I welcome the news that some progress had been made during recent talks I am concerned that the roster arrangement issues have not been significantly addressed by the company.

“It is unacceptable that Aer Lingus management is trying to force pilots to work longer stretches to compensate for a shortage of pilots at the company. The management’s assertions that this is about pilot productivity do not stack up. Under the current roster arrangements pilots only get one day off after working for six days straight. This issue is as much about passenger safety as it is about terms for the airlines pilots. I welcome statements from both parties that they stand ready for further talks. I hope that such talks can resume as quickly as possible so as to address the valid concerns of the pilots and avoid unnecessary inconvenience for passengers.”