Pictured: Ryanair planes could remain grounded over Christmas period
Travellers could face a
challenging Christmas period as Ryanair pilots in Ireland threaten strike
action, while pilots and air traffic controllers in Italy may stage a walk-out
this Friday.
The
carrier has issued a statement warning passengers that some disruption to
services might occur as a result of the walk-out. The airline said it had
received notification from the Aer Lingus pilots union IALPA warning of a
24-hour strike involving around 28 per cent of its 300 pilots in Dublin on
December 20. Ryanair says none of its pilots are union members, but IALPA
claims it has members in Ireland, the majority of whom voted in favour of
industrial action.
IALPA,
a branch of the Impact union, said it will seek action including strike if
Ryanair “continues to fail to recognise” it as the representative body for its
pilots, takes disciplinary action against its members or reduces any pay.
Ryanair
retaliated with the assertion that its Dublin pilots have been offered: “a 20
per cent pay increase at a time when IALPA is recommending a 3 per cent
increase to Aer Lingus pilots”, which staff in Belfast, Cork and Shannon have
already accepted. The carrier claims those pilots already earn up to €190,000
for a five on/four off roster. It says it will refuse “to recognise an Aer
Lingus pilot union, no matter how often of how long” the union threatens
action.
Elsewhere,
the airline says it has been warned by Italian authorities of a four-hour
walk-out this Friday (December 15) between 13.00 and 17.00, which will affect
air traffic controllers and some of the carrier’s own pilots and crew. It says
any affected passengers will be notified of disruption should the strike go
ahead.