Global union federation backs criticism of Ryanair

September 27, 2012

The secretary for civil aviation of global union federation the ITF (International Transport Workers’ Federation) has backed criticism by an easyJet official of Ryanair’s treatment of its staff.

 
In an interview with Europa Press*, Javier Gándara, CEO of easyJet in Spain and Portugal, is reported as contrasting EasyJet’s commitment to its staff (as part of which it has relocated 90 per cent of its workers affected by the closure of its base at Madrid-Barajas Airport) with Ryanair’s, and stating that carriers should act in accordance with the labour laws of the countries in which they operate.

ITF civil avation secretary Gabriel Mocho commented: “In our view, Ryanair is achieving a commercial advantage at the expense of its own staff.

“Javier Gándara is right – Ryanair is well known for insisting that its personnel worldwide operate under Irish rules and so have no recourse under the laws of the countries in which they actually live and work.” He continued: “That wilful blindness to reality is being regularly challenged by the trade unions that many Ryanair staff choose, and which Michael O’Leary wants to deny them.”

Full article at Air Transport News

ITF press release here