European wide pre-Christmas action Ryanair pilots threaten strike

Frankfurt/Main · Low cost airlines Ryanair has never been on strike until now but this could change if several European pilot unions call for work disruptions. Passengers in Germany also have to be prepared for cancellations and delays.

It could come to European-wide strikes for Ryanair the first time in the history of the Irish no-frills airline. Passengers in Germany might be affected with flight delays and cancellations. The pilot union Association Cockpit (VC) announced there would be strikes for the ten German Ryanair locations without mentioning exact dates because it wanted to make countermeasures on the part of the airline more difficult. Passengers would be informed in advance, however and strikes would not occur during the Christmas period from December 23 to 26.

Unions in Portugal and Italy have already called for strikes. A four-hour strike has been called for in Italy this Friday. At the home base of Dublin, Irish pilots voted on Monday evening in favor of a strike.

The unions accuse Ryanair, founded in 1985, of poor working conditions for the current 4,000 pilots. VC president Ilja Schulz criticized a lack of compensation for sick days or a pension plan and a system where those starting out their careers are not hired directly by Ryanair, but are encouraged to set up their own mini-companies under British or Irish law and then offer their work as self-employed.

The airline has categorically rejected negotiations with the union despite the threat of strikes. “Ryanair has received no notification of strikes by German pilots," read a statement from the airline. The German pilot union said it wants to force collective bargaining in order to achieve “fair work and pay conditions” for the approximate 400 pilots based in Germany. Using Tuifly as a benchmark, working conditions there are clearly defined and compensation is about 30 percent more than at Ryanair, explained Schulz.

In cooperation with other European pilot unions, the German union wants to take advantage of the current personnel problems at the Irish-based airline, which had to cancel about 20,000 flights in the winter timetable due to lack of pilots. According to the VC, pilots leave Ryanair in large numbers to get hired at other companies under better terms. Ryanair denies that it has staffing problems.

The German pilots’ union coordinates very closely with the other unions in Europe, according to Ryanair captain and spokeswoman for the union tariff commission, Tina Hausmann. Besides national collective agreements, they are striving for a European-wide payment system for all Ryanair pilots.

(Orig. text: dpa / Translation: ckloep)

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