Aer Lingus has announced that it is terminating up to 500 jobs.
The airline currently employs approximately 4,500 people.
The announcement follows reports last week that Aer Lingus would reduce its employees' pay and working hours to less than half of pre-COVID-19 crisis levels due to the failure of staff to meet the acceptance deadline for its workplace reform programme.
The Irish Times quotes Aer Lingus as saying, "Aer Lingus is now commencing the required consultation process with employee representative organisations."
Siptu And Fórsa Responses
Siptu divisional organiser Karan O'Loughlin has accused Aer Lingus of "pouring petrol on the fire of an already difficult industrial relations environment".
Meanwhile, Fórsa, which represents pilots, cabin crew and some managers, said that it would enter into talks with Aer Lingus to minimise job losses and protect the income of its members.
Aer Lingus highlighted the fact that the COVID-19 crisis has reduced the amount of flights it is operating to 5% of the normal number, and said that the 14-day quarantine for arriving passengers and official advice against "non-essential travel" has exacerbated the situation in the Republic of Ireland.
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