Aer Arann Pilots are being warned a potential strike could seriously damage tourism activity here in Clare and across the country.
The IALPA members have voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action in a row with management over pay and have threatened to walk off the job next Tuesday and Wednesday.
If they do strike it will affect thousands of passengers at Shannon Cork and Dublin Airports – as Aer Arann operates the Aer Lingus Regional Service – which runs daily flights from Shannon to Edinburgh, Manchester and Birmingham
IMPACT members say they are open to talks and Shannon Fine Gael senator Tony Mulcahy is calling for a resolution as soon as possible. He says "the last thing we need at Shannon or indeed anywhere on the island of Ireland at the moment is any form of industrial action that would impact on our tourists. Senator Mulcahy added that " these wouldn’t exactly be the lowest paid people in society you know, so I think they should reflect upon their position and no further damage should be done to our tourist industry"
However he President of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association claims Aer Arann pilots are earning, on average, about 30-thousand euro a year. Pilots want a wage cut and pay freeze they agreed to 4 years ago to be reversed.
Evan Cullen, President of IALPA, says most of Aer Arann’s pilots earn less than the industrial wage.
