ITF and ETF statement: support for IALPA’s lawful and legitimate strike at Ryanair
July 12, 2018
The International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) and the European Transport Workers’ Federation (ETF) stand in solidarity with the strike action taken today by Irish pilots at Ryanair.
Last week, the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association (IALPA), part of the ITF/ETF affiliate union Fórsa, announced twenty-four hours of strike action on Thursday, 12 July. This followed a breakdown in negotiations with Ryanair over base transfer arrangements and other matters.
The IALPA has been demanding fair treatment for Ryanair pilots for over a decade. In December 2017, facing strikes over the Christmas period, the company finally agreed to recognise trade unions for the first time. This move was supposed to mark a new era of industrial relations at Ryanair.
Yet, six months on, there have been no concrete improvements in pay or working conditions for any Ryanair workers. It is a sign of the company’s failure to deliver real change that pilots in its home country must resort to industrial action to make their voices heard.
One day after the IALPA strike announcement, cabin crew published a Ryanair Crew Charter outlining their demands. Rather than engaging with crew in good faith, the company immediately denounced the charter as “pointless”. ITF/ETF affiliates in four other countries have announced cabin crew strike action for 25 and 26 July.
The ITF and the ETF support all lawful industrial action undertaken by their affiliates in an effort to win a fair deal for Ryanair workers.
Tags: anti-union, IALPA, industrial action, Irish Airline Pilots' Association, Irish pilots, Ryanair, solidarity, strike