Ryanair finds an agreement with its pilots in several European countries

The airline Ryanair announced on Friday a series of agreements on working conditions with pilot unions in several European countries, at the same time cabin personnel threaten new strikes. These social agreements were concluded with the unions,
at the end of an ongoing European social conflict in the Irish low-cost airline.

They represent advances for Ryanair but are far from solving the social revolt unleashed by pilots in some countries and especially by the cabin crew, who have spearheaded recent social movements. Ryanair said in a statement that it signed this week an agreement with the union of SPAC pilots in Portugal, Balpa in the United Kingdom and ANPAC in Italy, providing for better working conditions and especially the negotiation of a collective agreement.

A collective agreement for pilots

This should allow pilots employed directly by Ryanair to benefit from contracts governed by the law of their country of residence and no longer from Irish law. This is a major demand from unions for months. Ryanair also anticipates the upcoming signing of a recognition agreement with the SEPLA pilot union in Spain, which will also open negotiations on a collective agreement.

The company believes that the unions have been encouraged to negotiate with Ryanair given the many difficulties faced by other low cost players in Europe, as evidenced by the recent bankruptcy of the Danish company Primera Air and Cypriot Cobalt.

Continuous voltage in cabin crew

"These agreements signed with our pilot unions in Portugal, the United Kingdom, Italy and soon in Spain reflect the considerable progress we are making in reaching agreements with our employees in our main European markets," says Eddie Wilson. Director of Ryanair Staff. The company finally says it hopes to sign other agreements in Spain and Portugal, this time with the cabin crew, with whom social relations are still very tense in many countries.

In Germany, where the social conflict is still ongoing, an agreement could be found in the "next three weeks" according to the general manager of the company Michael O'Leary.