Ryanair puts pledge on unions in writing
Letter from airline contains pay and conditions proposals
RYANAIR has pledged in writing to recognise an Irish trade union in a historic move set to avert a Christmas strike.
The low-cost carrier has sent a letter to Impact officials with proposals on pay and conditions and procedures for dealing with industrial relations disputes.
Ryanair said it was recognising both the trade union and the pilot council for employees.
It added: “Ryanair looks forward to concluding an early agreement on these issues with its Irish Ryanair pilot company council.”
The decision by one of Europe’s largest airlines to deal with unions after years of opposition follows threatened pre-christmas strike action by Irish-based pilots which was called off earlier this week.
Impact said the move – recognising the union for collective bargaining issues with immediate effect – means the threat of a strike has receded. The airline and union will meet on January 3 to thrash out a comprehensive recognition agreement – the first time Ryanair has agreed to engage with union officials in its 32-year existence.
Impact’s Ashley Connolly paid tribute to the pilots for their hardline approach.
She added: “This advance is good news for Ryanair pilots, passengers and shareholders. “Impact will now immediately start work to make union recognition in Ryanair a practical reality by working with management to establish a formal collective bargaining agreement, and then by using this opportunity to win improved security, terms and working conditions for the airline’s pilots.”