Editorial: Aer Lingus and pilots must get off this destructive path and ease holidaymakers’ worries

Aer Lingus and its pilots are in dispute over pay. Photo: Collins

Editorial

There was a time in Irish industrial relations when government intervention became the status quo. The economy was far smaller, jobs scarcer and international rules and competition were less of an issue. And behind every such state involvement there was a degree of magical thinking.

It was as if there were a national money tree which, when shaken with enough muscle, would allow golden apples to fall. It would entice even the most recalcitrant adversaries to reach an accommodation.

Those were more innocent times. It may have taken a few recessions and a crash for the brutal lessons of an open economy to be learnt, but learn them we did.

Stable, rule-based economies run best with minimum government interference if foreign investment is to flow.

So it was scarcely surprising for Tánaiste Micheál Mart to dismiss Sinn Féin’s call for government intervention in the Aer Lingus pilots’ dispute.

He was responding to the party’s enterprise spokeswoman, Louise O’Reilly, who said: “We cannot underestimate the impacts that the uncertainty is having.”

She urged ministers “to engage in a constructive manner to get all sides around the table”.

All would share her concerns, especially with the carrier preparing to cancel 10pc to 20pc of its flights over the first five days of planned industrial action by the middle of next week.

The need to concentrate hearts and minds is obvious, but it is critical to recognise where responsibility to find a solution to this impasse rests. Management and the pilots have the means and method to get off this destructive path.

There are also ample industrial relations mechan­isms to assist, but it is not the Government’s job. As Benjamin Franklin warned: “Those who in quarrels interpose must often wipe a bloody nose.”

Simon Harris is correct in saying: “People need to step back from the brink.”

Holidays hopes do not have to be dashed; if they are, it will be because of deliberate actions. The Taoiseach left no room for ambiguity as to where the Government stands, saying: “So ‘Get back in a room and sort this out’ is my very clear message.”

Earlier, he said it was “utterly reprehensible” that children and families “could be used as pawns in an industrial relations dispute” at Aer Lingus.

The travelling public will concur. If there are industrial grievances to be aired, the time to thrash them out should not be at the height of the summer season when any disruption of services is guaranteed to wreak maximum havoc.

Many were nonplussed that talks could not start for several days as union negotiators returned to their normal flying duties. It is in no one’s interest for the economy and jobs to suffer if tourists cannot get in to the country due to a lack of flights.

Mr Martin has appealed to both sides to re-engage with the assistance of the Workplace Relations Comm­ission. It is not too late.