Fórsa insists Ryanair must talk pay with it

TRADE union Fórsa is waiting on Ryanair management to “reach agreement on recognition procedures quickly” so substantive talks can begin on pay and working conditions, it said yesterday.

The union was commenting after Ryanair said talks with the union are “progressing slowly”.

Ryanair said yesterday that pilots at all 15 of its bases in the UK have accepted a pay rise. But it added that Dublin pilots have not accepted a deal.

“Ryanair had asked the remaining Dublin pilots to vote on this large pay increase on or before January 17 so that they could be paid in next week’s January payroll,” the airline said. “Ryanair is disappointed that no such vote was organised among the remaining 35pc of Dublin pilots who will now not receive this pay increase in the January payroll.”

Fórsa, formerly the Impact trade union, said it has convened meetings with pilots, but insisted that Ryanair must now negotiate pay through it.

“The union has convened meetings with its members in Ryanair, and Fórsa has told management we will ballot on a no-strings pay package as an interim measure, pending engagement on pay following completion of a recognition agreement,” said a spokesman.

“As Fórsa is now recognised by the company for collective bargaining, pay must be negotiated with the union.”

He said Ryanair management and Fórsa are continuing to talk with the intention of finalising a formal recognition agreement.

“We’d like the process to be quicker, but these things take time,” he said.

Ryanair has been holding talks with unions in Europe after agreeing before Christmas to recognise the organisations.