Ryanair Strikes: The Current Situation

Ryanair pilots are already in the middle of industrial action, having begun a strike on Monday that will last until 23.59 on Wednesday. Pilots are now to stage a fresh series of strikes after failing to resolve an ongoing dispute with the airline, the Balpa Union has announced. This is due to the airline’s refusal to seek conciliation talks. UK-based pilots working for Ryanair are exasperated about a number of issues, with Balpa saying the disputes are the result of “decades” of Ryanair Strikes with the airline refusing to engage. Budget airline Ryanair has already been voted the worst brand for customer service. Balpa General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said:

“We want to address issues like pensions; loss of licence insurance; maternity benefits; allowances; and harmonise pay across the UK in a fair, transparent, and consistent structure.”

“While this action has considerably disrupted Ryanair, forcing them to engage contractors and bring in foreign crews to run its operation, it has had limited impact on the public’s travel plans.”

“Pilots in Ryanair are seeking the same kind of policies and agreements that exist in other airlines – our demands are not unreasonable.”

“We are clear that we want to settle the dispute and bring about a change in Ryanair for the better.”

“Ryanair should stop dragging its feet and get back to the negotiating table.”

What happens next

The next round of strikes will be on September 18 and 19, for 48 hours. Then strikes will continue on September 21, 23, 25 and 27. Current grievances include issues with pensions, allowances, pay structures, working conditions, and maternity benefits. A statement on Ryanair’s twitter account yesterday morning said the airline had operated more than 820 scheduled flights yesterday with zero cancellations. Ryanair lost a High Court bid to block strikes on August 22 and 23. The UK has seen a rise in flight delays and is the second worst country for delays as it stands.

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