Aer Lingus as we all know here in Ireland are closing down their Shannon to Heathrow, London route. Therefore if you are flying from the USA to Shannon and then after some touring intend to fly on to London it will no longer be from Shannon. They intend to fly from Belfast into Heathrow instead, taking advantage in the current Belfast situation regard lower tax due to its development status.
The pilots have decided to go on strike regarding the new Aer Lingus hub being set up in Belfast. Pilots employed from Belfast will be paid less than their counterparts from the south of Ireland. Big deal one would think, companies pay different rates in different countries – and it is certainly cheaper to live in the north of Ireland than the south. But the pilots want the oppertunity to transfer from were they are currently based to Belfast with the pay and conditions – get a life boys.
The second biggest laugh however in this shambles is that Ryan Air own 25% of Aer Lingus and are calling a EGM to put pressure on them to keep the Shannon route open – as it is still profitable. The biggest laugh in the whole thing is the Irish government’s reaction… nothing, complete silence so far, and to top it off they also own 25% of Aer Lingus.
Micheal O’Leary, CEO of Ryan Air was on the radio asking if Berti Ahern would come out of hiding in his Kerry hide-away and say something, but no the incompetent Berti is staying silent. The silence cannot last however as they will have to turn up for the EGM and say something at that point.
Aer Lingus has said that it did not believe
the union had any role in the issue of terms and conditions for staff to be
recruited in Belfast.
The strike planned for next Tuesday and Wednesday is over proposals by the
company to recruit pilots in Belfast on terms and conditions which the union
says will be less favorable than those which apply in the Republic.
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