Union suspends current and planned industrial action on Emerald Airlines

Fórsa trade union has temporarily suspended all current and planned industrial action by pilots at Emerald Airlines.

Union officials and Emerald management are to meet Monday, July 31. 

The union confirmed the suspension of industrial action in correspondence issued to Emerald this evening, Sunday. Fórsa national secretary Katie Morgan said suspending the action is to allow for meaningful engagement at tomorrow’s meeting. 

Ms Morgan said the union hopes to reach agreement with Emerald to negotiate a collective labour agreement covering pilots terms and conditions of employment. 

Emerald Airlines operates regional flights, including the Dublin to Donegal service on behalf of Aer Lingus and UK regional routes trading as Aer Lingus Regional.

The pilots are members of IALPA, the professional association which represents pilots within Ireland, and a branch of Fórsa trade union. 

The union say the industrial action was in response to the airline’s failure to engage with the union to form a collective labour agreement for pilots employed at the carrier.  

Emerald pilots had been engaged in a strict work-to-rule since June 24, which escalated last week. Fórsa had also issued notice to Emerald Airlines of a 24-hour work stoppage which was due to take place next Friday, August 4. That planned action is now suspended.