Ryanair customers face disruption this Christmas after members of the Irish Airline Pilots’ Association served the airline with notice of a one-day strike on 20 December.
A majority of the 84 Ireland-based, directly employed pilots - most of them captains - voted to strike five days before Christmas in a move that will lead to flight cancellations and cost the airline a “substantial” amount of money, The Irish Times reports. It has not been announced which flights will be affected.
Pilots want a new collective bargaining system to replace employee councils formed in September following Ryanair’s rostering fiasco. The airline, which employs a total of about 360 pilots in Dublin, has refused to recognise a European Employee Representative Council established to represent Ryanair bases across the Continent, says the Irish Independent.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Ryanair’s pilots in Italy are planning a four-hour stoppage on 15 December, and the German Airline Pilots Association warns that its members may also strike, Reuters reports. The timing of the German industrial action is unknown, but the union says no walkouts will occur between the afternoon of 23 December and midnight of 26 December. Portugal also approved strike action a week ago, but no date was set.
Ryanair argues that its existing representation structure fulfills its obligations and has the Supreme Court’s approval, says The Irish Times. The carrier also claims that pilots at many of its bases have voted for pay increases that would leave them better off than those flying for rivals such as Norwegian Air.
-
AI workslop is muddying the American workplaceThe explainer Using AI may create more work for others
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime ministerSpeed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
The 5 best mob movies of all timeThe Week Recommends If you don’t like a good gangster flick, just fuhgeddaboudit
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
-
Inside the Israel-Turkey geopolitical dance across SyriaTHE EXPLAINER As Syria struggles in the wake of the Assad regime's collapse, its neighbors are carefully coordinating to avoid potential military confrontations
