99% of Ryanair pilots voted in favour of strike action.
Ryanair crew have warned that they too could be joining their colleagues in strike action next week after after presenting the company’s CEO Michael O’Leary with a list of demands.
According to the Guardian, crew representatives from across Europe met at a two-day summit in Dublin on Tuesday and Wednesday and claimed that little progress had been made since O’Leary amended the company’s stance to recognise crew unions back in December.
It’s understood that both cabin and ground crew believe that not enough is being done to improve their working conditions including pay, pressurised target-based work, seniority and annual leave.
Staff based abroad are also facing issues with bank requirements, claiming that they were told to open Irish bank accounts to receive pay – something that is standing in the way of mortgages and loans.
The comes just a day after dozens of Ryanair’s Dublin-based pilots, who are also members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA), voted overwhelmingly in favour of industrial action (99%).
It’s believed that the pilots, who are directly-employed by the airline, voted for strike action following a dispute over management’s approach to transferring pilots between its European and African bases.
Strike action will commence for a period of 24 hours next week, beginning at 01:00 on Thursday, 12 July.
@IALPA @forsa_union_ie Statement on Ryanair members strike ballot. @IFALPA @eu_cockpit pic.twitter.com/A2P8kqiANt
— IALPA (@IALPA) July 3, 2018
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF), a union body that represents crew at the vast majority of Ryanair’s bases, has kick-started a campaign to come to the aid of Ryanair’s cabin crew.
The umbrella group listed demands after the summit ranging from improvements to economic conditions to safety and rostering and workplace culture.
“FR crew have the right to workplace protection and to enjoy the same fair and equal treatment as their unionised counterparts,” Anu Hietala and Oliver Richardson, ETF civil aviation section presidents.
“As elected representatives, we are working with the ITF and ETF teams to make sure we are ready to support and empower the proud and loyal FR crew return.”
Although industrial action was voted for by pilots based in Ireland, it’s believed that the strike could have a knock-on effect across the UK as the budget airline attempts to accommodate compromised flights.
Ryanair has yet to make a comment on the alleged strike action.
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