Aer Lingus flights face disruption on Saturday

DUBLIN, Ireland (Reuters) -- Irish state-owned airline Aer Lingus said Friday that flights from Dublin might face disruption Saturday if a planned two-hour walkout by baggage handlers goes ahead.

"We have been told that there will be a two-hour stoppage. What we do not know at this stage is what time that will occur, therefore right now it's not possible to specify the extent of any disruption that may occur," said Dan Loughrey, Group Corporate Affairs director.

Aer Lingus is in talks with cabin crew representatives as well as pilots, baggage handlers and clerical staff about pay.

"Today the full schedule will operate, albeit without some catering available on board," Loughrey said in a telephone interview.

"Essentially the disputes are about pay. These groups are looking for additional pay. We have made offers in virtually all cases. They've been through the industrial relations machinery here. The offers by and large have been rejected," he said.

IMPACT, the country's largest public sector union, said on Monday it planned a 24-hour strike next week by cabin crew to protest pay and conditions. Catering and loading staff are represented by SIPTU, Ireland's largest union.

SIPTU said on Friday that 1,400 clerical staff had voted overwhelmingly for industrial action and that strike notice would now be served on the company.

The proposed action will involve check-in and boarding staff, ramp workers, reservations staff, travel shops and workers in the Aer Lingus head office, it said.

The union said the company needed to put a realistic pay offer on the table if the action were to be averted.

Aer Lingus, which is expected to be privatized in 2001, is a member of the Oneworld alliance with British Airways and American Airlines.

Pilots are also looking for higher pay, aggrieved that their counterparts at British Airways and American are better paid.

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