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30th Jul 2018

Ryanair releases list of 11 requirements made by pilots’ union to prevent further strikes

Conor Heneghan

Ryanair

Ryanair says it has agreed to nine of the 11 requirements outlined by FORSA ahead of a fourth day of strikes this Friday.

Ryanair has released a list of 11 requirements made by FORSA, the union representing Irish-based Ryanair pilots who are members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (Ialpa), in order to prevent further strikes threatened by the union in recent days.

Ahead of a fourth day of strikes this Friday (3 August), which has resulted in the cancellation of 20 flights and will affect 3,500 Irish customers, FORSA had said that “further strike action would follow later this month unless the airline’s management changed tack and negotiated in good faith on the issue of base transfers and related matters”.

In response, Ryanair has invited FORSA and its Pilot Committee to meet to discuss FORSA’s requirements, after the strike on Friday, with Ryanair stating that 20 cancelled flights cannot be restored as all passengers affected have been re-accommodated or refunded.

Ryanair’s invitation to the meeting is dependent on no more strikes being called while it meets with FORSA and no Aer Lingus pilots being involved in the negotiations.

The airline also released the list of 11 requirements issued by FORSA and Ryanair’s response to the requirements (which can be read in full here), nine of which have been agreed to by the airline.

In a statement released on Monday, Ryanair said: “Ryanair today (30 July) invited FORSA and its Pilot Committee to meet to discuss FORSA’s requirements, after next Fridays 4th strike by just 25% of Irish pilots, which has disrupted another 3,500 Irish customers flights. Since all these passengers have now been re-accommodated or refunded, these 20 cancelled flights (out of 300) cannot be restored even if this fourth strike is called off, as the damage to Ryanair’s Irish business has already been done.

“Ryanair also released details of FORSA’s 11 requirements, nine of which have already been agreed by Ryanair. Only two of these, no.6 (which would limit Ryanair’s growth and F.O. promotions), and no.11 (which FORSA cannot explain because it contradicts no.7 & no.10) are not agreed. Given how much Ryanair has already agreed to, it is irresponsible of FORSA to call repeated strikes of Irish pilots and refuse to meet Ryanair (as they did last Tuesday), which has damaged Ryanair’s Irish business and led to 300 pilots and cabin crew receiving protective notices.

Ryanair’s COO Peter Bellew said: “The 20 cancelled flights next Friday cannot be recovered even if this unnecessary (fourth) strike is called off. We hope FORSA will accept our invitation to meet either next Saturday (fourth) or any day the following week commencing Mon 6 August, as long as no more strikes are called while we meet, and no Aer Lingus pilots are involved in these negotiations.

“FORSA’s call for a meeting lacks credibility when we invited them to meet us last Wednesday, and their only response was to refuse, and instead call a 4th strike. We apologise to the 3,500 Irish customers (whose 20 flights next Fri have been cancelled), but who have now been re-accommodated or refunded. We share their frustration at these strikes (by just 25% of Irish pilots), which are unnecessary when we have already agreed to 9 of FORSA’s 11 requirements.”