Airline heads challenged over treatment of workers during crisis
TD calls on Ryanair to drop legal threats against workers
Today, People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith called on Ryanair to drop a threatened court case against 11 members of IAPLA when the CEO Eddie Wilson appeared before the Covid 19 special Committee. It emerged that Ryanair is suing the pilots over last year’s threatened industrial action at the airline.
Bríd Smith TD said the move was a blatant attempt to break the union and retracts previous moves to recognise the workers unions.
She told the committee today: “It is ironic that both Aer Lingus and Ryanair come into this committee demanding, effectively, state aid to stay in business while at the same time they have behaved appallingly toward their workers during this crisis.”
The TD highlighted how both airlines had threatened to unilaterally impose wage cuts and changes in contracts on workers with little if any consultation during the crisis.
She highlighted that while Ryanair demanded the state provide greater support for the airline and its workforce, they also continued to threaten those same workers.
The TD said she would be more inclined to support some measures advocated by the airlines if they ceased the assault on their workforce.
She also said the plight of Aer Lingus and suggestions that the IAG group may abandon the airline highlighted the need for a national airline and the folly of privatising the airline.
