Speaking to BBC News NI, IALPA president Capt Mark Tighe said the work was now in place because Aer Lingus management \u201chave refused to see the reasonableness of our accumulative inflationary pay claim\u201d.<\/p>\n
IALPA are seeking a 24% pay rise. <\/p>\n
Capt Tighe said an “acceptable offer” would see the industrial action end.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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He added: \u201cThe company have refused point blank to see their wisdom and sense in keeping their staff\u2018s salaries in line with inflation.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe’re not looking to increase our pay, we are looking to preserve our income,” he added.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt is not unreasonable for staff to want their salary protected\u201d.<\/p>\n
He said the work to rule includes \u201csome added industrial elements\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cBasically pilots who have always been very flexible in making sure that airplanes got home in delay situations, and coming in on days off \u2013 some pilots did, most don\u2019t because of work life balance \u2013 but with that withdrawn, the flexibility is gone\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n
PA Media<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nSimon Harris has called for intensive engagement between both sides to bring an end to the dispute<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/figure>\n\n
Capt Tighe said people should be aware that it is only a small number of pilots that give up their days off to work.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor the company to turn around to say they’re cancelling up to 20% of their flights because of this means they are so short of pilots, they have a problem they’re not willing to address,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
On Tuesday, senior political figures in the Republic of Ireland called for a resolution to be found.<\/p>\n
Taoiseach (Irish prime minister) Simon Harris had called on Aer Lingus and IALPA to “engage intensively” at the Labour Court to avoid “utter chaos” for air passengers.<\/p>\n
He urged both sides to “dig deep”, calling for “compromise, engagement and sitting around a table\u201d.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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T\u00e1naiste (Irish deputy prime minister) Miche\u00e1l Martin meanwhile said there was “an urgent necessity” to find a resolution.<\/p>\n
The public, he added, were being ignored by both sides in the dispute.<\/p>\n
“It’s shocking that they’re being ignored, and wilfully, if you like, put to one side in this battle between the management of Aer Lingus and unions,” Mr Martin said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n