Aer Lingus and pilots to have separate meetings over pay

Aer Lingus and Irish Air Line Pilot's Association (IALPA) have accepted invitations by Ireland's Labour Court to attend separate meetings on Tuesday. Earlier, the tánaiste (Irish deputy prime minister) has described the Aer Lingus pay dispute as "shocking", adding that the needs of the Irish travelling public were being ignored by both sides.<br/>In a statement, Aer Lingus said the Labour Court requested it to provide a briefing on the pilot pay dispute, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported. Thousands of passengers face uncertainty over the next week as pilots begin industrial action in a dispute over pay. At least 244 Aer Lingus flights have now been cancelled. Irish broadcaster RTÉ reported that Micheál Martin has appealed to the Irish Air Line Pilots' Association (IALPA) and Aer Lingus management to "get around the table" on the basis of an existing interim recommendation from Ireland's Labour Court. Members of the IALPA begin an indefinite work-to-rule period from Wednesday and will also take part in a further eight-hour strike on Saturday 29 June.<br/>