An Aer Lingus plane takes off from Manchester Airport. File photo/ Getty
Aer Lingus cabin crew at the airline’s Manchester base have voted for strike action.
The 130 cabin crew, who are on substantially lower pay than their Irish-based colleagues, have voted to take the action over the upcoming mid term break from October 30 to November 2.
The move – which Aer Lingus admitted would be very disruptive to its Manchester customers – came after the crew rejected a cumulative pay rise of 12pc that had been recommended by their union Unite.
Aer Lingus is now a major operator out of Manchester with several flights each day to destinations including New York, Orlando and Barbados, as well as Dublin.
The crew had rejected a pay rise of 9pc this year and 3pc next year.
“While they recognise this seems like a high number, the reality is that base salaries are so low workers have struggled to afford basics such as housing and bills,” said the union in a statement.
“Many have also taken on second jobs or worked large amounts of overtime to try and make up for the shortfall in pay, leaving them at risk of stress and burnout.”
An airline spokeswoman said it “notes with disappointment the outcome of the ballot for industrial action by cabin crew on its UK transatlantic routes”.
Aer Lingus had “negotiated in good faith” with Unite and had regard to “benchmarked market pay in the UK”.
“Aer Lingus and Unite reached agreement on two separate comprehensive and market competitive pay deals which Unite then recommended to its members, the latter being based on a recommendation following a detailed conciliation process,” she said.
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