Ryanair extends offer to avert strike

RYANAIR has offered to meet with the Impact trade union ahead of a threatened 24-hour strike this week by a number of pilots.

However, the strike has not been officially called off and uncertainty remains for passengers booked on certain flights during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.

The union had warned industrial action would go ahead unless company management arranged to meet before Wednesday — the day of the planned strike.

After the dramatic decision to recognise union representation for the first time, the company yesterday released a statement saying it had now agreed to a meeting on Tuesday with Impact, to which the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA) is affiliated.

“Ryanair today confirmed that the German pilot union, and Impact/IALPA, have agreed to Ryanair’s offer of meetings to agree union recognition on Wednesday, December 20. Ryanair has also offered to meet Impact/ IALPA, and their Ryanair pilot committee on Tuesday, December 19, if that would suit them better,” read the statement.

Union chiefs had earlier insisted the strike action would go ahead unless management agreed to meet before Wednesday.

Speaking to the Sunday Independent, a senior union source insisted the get-together between both sides would have to be before the Wednesday deadline.

He said there were serious concerns that Ryanair management could renege on their commitments.

“There’s history between the two organisations. Up until the latest company announcement, it had a very public and vehement attitude it wouldn’t talk to unions.

“Essentially, they had a ‘not over my dead body’ approach to union recognition. Taking what they say — based on trust — is not a sensible thing to do.”

He stressed it was vital that both the company and the union meet so the next phase in resolving the dispute could be agreed. Other sources suggested pressure from shareholders resulted in the dramatic decision to agree to union recognition.

It’s the biggest industrial relations climbdown in the airline’s 32-year-history.

“They don’t care if there’s a union or not a union, so long as the share price is robust,” another source added.

CEO Michael O’Leary has said the radical U-turn to recognise trade unions was a bid to avoid travel chaos for customers during Christmas week.