Minister urges Aer Lingus and union to ‘get around the table’ and avoid strikes

Minister for Finance Michael McGrath has urged Aer Lingus management and unions to “get down around the table” for talks to avoid strikes.

He said discussions should take place as soon as possible to avoid travel chaos over the summer holiday season.

Aer Lingus pilots voted overwhelmingly for industrial action in a dispute over pay, it was announced on Monday.

Members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA), which represents hundreds of pilots at the airline, voted 99 per cent in favour.

The airline has described the pilots’ pay demands as unrealistic.

Speaking as he arrived for a cabinet meeting in Dublin, Mr McGrath said: “I would call on both Aer Lingus management and the union to get down around the table as quickly as possible and to have meaningful discussions to avoid industrial action.

“We’re coming into a very important season now, where for many individuals and families this is the one opportunity in the year that they may have to get…