Ryanair strikes: Airline ‘hell bent on prolonging dispute’, says union

‘With almost all our UK pilots ignoring this Balpa strike, we once again had no strike-related cancellations or disruptions,’ says Ryanair

On the seventh day of industrial action by pilots employed by Ryanair in the UK, the airline has been accused of being “hell bent on prolonging the dispute”.

Flight crew have already stopped work for two days in August and four days in September. Members of the British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) are in dispute about a wide range of concerns, including pensions, loss of licence insurance and maternity benefits.

They also want to “harmonise pay across the UK in a fair, transparent, and consistent structure”.

Strikes have also been called for 21, 23, 25, 27 and 29 September.

No impact has been felt in terms of cancellations to and from British airports.

The pilots’ union claims that members have been told that benefits will be removed should they take part in current strike action.

Balpa’s general secretary, Brian Strutton, said: “It takes an extraordinarily intransigent employer to refuse to take part in an entirely voluntary, non-binding Acas process from which each side can withdraw at any time.

“Given that neither side has anything to lose from Acas conciliation, what on earth is Ryanair frightened of?

“Instead of seeking to resolve the current impasse via negotiation, Ryanair seems by threatening pilots with the removal of staff travel benefits and inflated and draconian deductions from salary.”

In a statement on its website, Ryanair said: “Yesterday (Weds 18 Sept), the sixth day of Balpa’s unjustified strikes, thanks to the great work of over 95 per cent of our UK pilots who flew as rostered, Ryanair operated all of its over 820 scheduled flights to/from the UK with zero cancellations.

“With almost all our UK pilots ignoring this Balpa strike, we once again had no strike-related cancellations or disruptions, proving yet again these Balpa strikes are pointless.

“We again call on Balpa to return to talks with Ryanair to resolve any issues of genuine concern for our UK pilots, where Balpa’s strikes have totally failed.”

Ryanair expects all its flights to and from UK airports on Saturday 21 September to operate as scheduled.

On Wednesday, Balpa suspended its planned strike by British Airways pilots for 27 September.

BA has yet to respond.