ONE MORE THING:TROUBLE APPEARS to be brewing in the US for Aer Lingus as flight attendants working on its joint venture with local carrier United seek union representation and pay parity with their colleagues in the two airlines.

Aer Lingus and United have operated a joint venture on a route from Washington DC to Madrid since 2010. United sells the tickets and markets the route while Aer Lingus provides the aircraft and crew.

Having operated under different terms and conditions to their colleagues in the Irish airline and at United, the Washington DC-based crew have now decided to mobilise themselves to try and improve their lot. The 60 crew have signed up with the Association of Flight Attendants in the US to press their claims for equal terms.

The association recently put out a statement claiming that the crew “perform the same essential first-responder duties as their Irish counterparts and 25,000 United flight attendants, without the same pay, benefits and work rule protections afforded by a legally binding contract”.

It claims that the joint venture was “dreamed up” by management for the “sole purpose of avoiding the legal obligations of a contract and a commitment to workers”. Strong stuff.

The association wants the Aer Lingus flight crew to have the right to collective bargaining, with Shay Cody, general secretary of Impact, which represents flight crew in Ireland, conveying its “full support” for their move.

Aer Lingus is maintaining radio silence on the matter.