Ryanair’s being called on to inform passengers about the number of flights it will cancel next week.
It’s after some of their Dublin based pilots voted for strike action on December 20th over the airline’s refusal to negotiate with trade unions.
In September and October Ryanair had to cancel thousands of flights in a row over pilots’ rosters, now pilots who are members of IALPA have served notice of strike action for next Wednesday – just five days before Christmas.
Ashley Connolly from IMPACT which IALPA is part of, says Ryanair’s model of not negotiating with trade unions has failed; “The dispute is about securing a safe place for negotiations with independent representation that pilots can have confidence in.”
Only pilots who are directly employed by Ryanair – that’s around 80 out of 300 based in Dublin – will be downing tools next week, but the airline has refused to say how many flights will be cancelled. This leaves intending passengers in doubt about how they’ll get home for Christmas.
Junior Tourism Minister Brendan Griffin wants clarity for passengers;
“I would urge everybody involved to give as much information as possible – I would hope for the sake of people trying to get home for Christmas that transport will be available for them.”
Ryanair is apologising for the disruption to its passengers but says it will not recognise the pilot union.
