CityJet have since been in contact with the WRC to see if a resolution can be reached.
Unite, the airline representing pilots working for Dublin-based airline CityJet, has notified the airline of a series of 13 full-day work stoppages starting next Thursday, November 24.
Notification of the strike action comes after an 82% vote to escalate the limited industrial action commenced in September following CityJet’s refusal to allow the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) to refer issues in dispute to the Labour Court.
After notification of strike action was served, CityJet called for the intervention of the WRC to engage with Unite to see if a resolution can be reached. The CityJet statement in full can be read at the bottom of the page.
CityJet pilots represented by Unite had previously served notification to strike for 24 hours starting at 00:01 on the following dates, including the four days immediately prior to Christmas Eve, December 20-23.
- Thursday November 24
- Friday November 25
- Thursday December 1
- Friday December 2
- Thursday December 8
- Friday December 9
- Wednesday December 14
- Thursday December 15
- Friday December 16
- Tuesday December 20
- Wednesday December 21
- Thursday December 22
- Friday December 23
CityJet employs 80 pilots at its Dublin Airport, but say that only a minority of them are affiliated to Unite, who claim that the number is closer to 40 pilots.
Commenting on the notification of strike action, Unite Regional Officer Willie Quigley said: “In addition to our ongoing pay issues with CityJet, which the company refuses to allow the WRC to refer to the Labour Court in contravention of an agreement with Unite obliging them to attend the Court, the company is now threatening to terminate their agreement with Unite in respect of pilot representation. This would deny our members the right to be collectively represented by the union of their choice.
“Other issues in dispute range from the company’s refusal to adequately compensate pilots who are being moved to CityJet’s Amsterdam base to the imposition to ‘Bond Payments’ to secure a job with the company.
“Thanks to the dedication and hard work of CityJet employees, the airline has won several awards in recent years. Unfortunately, thanks to their recent persistent refusal to engage constructively with our members, and to use mechanisms such as the WRC, they aren’t in line for any industrial relations prizes.
“The resolution of this dispute is in CityJet’s hands and as always Unite remains available for engagement directly with CityJet or under the auspices of the WRC.”
UPDATE: In a statement released on Thursday, CityJet indicated a willingness to engage with the WRC and the pilots in an attempt to resolve matters and said that they would anticipate a suspension of all industrial action as a result.
The statement read as follows:
CityJet today said that it has called for the intervention of the Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) following a decision of a minority of its Dublin-based pilots attached to the Unite Trade Union to issue notice of industrial action.
A spokesperson for CityJet said: “Although we envisage no disruption to our services, we have been in contact with the WRC today in order to engage with Unite to see if a solution to this dispute can be found.
“We would anticipate that following this request to the WRC that Unite would suspend all industrial action, including work to rule and potential strike dates. We are available to engage with the WRC and pilots to resolve matters.”
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