Dublin — Ryanair’s Irish pilots suspended a planned
strike, after Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier agreed to recognise
their labour union.
The Irish company wrote to pilot organisations in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal inviting each of them to talks "to
recognise these unions as the representative body for pilots in Ryanair in each of these countries", it said last week. In response, pilots suspended a strike set for December 20.
Impact, a labour union helping representing the pilots, said late on Sunday that it had agreed to meet management on Tuesday, but says it is available to meet sooner.
In the e-mail statement, Impact said "it looked forward to establishing a positive relationship with Ryanair company management".
The about-turn by CEO Michael O’Leary, who once said "hell would freeze over" before Ryanair unionised, reflects the intensity of the pressure pilot groups have put on the airline for recognition. The CEO had pledged higher pay and bonuses to keep flight-deck crews from bolting to rivals, and also threatened them with retaliatory measures if they went on strike.
Ryanair said in its statement that unions will be recognised so long as they established committees of its pilots to deal with issues relating to the company. There would be no engagement with pilots who flew for competitor airlines, the company said, calling on crews to call off planned walkouts.
Bloomberg
The Irish company wrote to pilot organisations in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain and Portugal inviting each of them to talks "to
recognise these unions as the representative body for pilots in Ryanair in each of these countries", it said last week. In response, pilots suspended a strike set for December 20.
Impact, a labour union helping representing the pilots, said late on Sunday that it had agreed to meet management on Tuesday, but says it is available to meet sooner.
In the e-mail statement, Impact said "it looked forward to establishing a positive relationship with Ryanair company management".
The about-turn by CEO Michael O’Leary, who once said "hell would freeze over" before Ryanair unionised, reflects the intensity of the pressure pilot groups have put on the airline for recognition. The CEO had pledged higher pay and bonuses to keep flight-deck crews from bolting to rivals, and also threatened them with retaliatory measures if they went on strike.
Ryanair said in its statement that unions will be recognised so long as they established committees of its pilots to deal with issues relating to the company. There would be no engagement with pilots who flew for competitor airlines, the company said, calling on crews to call off planned walkouts.
Bloomberg
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