UK Ryanair pilots announce a further seven days of strikes
Ryanair members of the British Airline Pilots Association have announced further strike dates following the company’s refusal to seek conciliation talks at ACAS to resolve the dispute.
Pilots already carried out strike action on 22nd and 23rd August 2019 and are also currently on a strike which began on Monday this week (3rd September 2019), and continues until 23.59 on Wednesday (5th September 2019). BALPA feels it has been left with no choice but to add more dates given Ryanair’s intransigence.
The next rounds of strikes will be: 18th to 19th September 2019 (48 hours), 21st September 2019 (24 hours), 23rd September (24 hours), 25th September (24 hours), 27th September (24 hours) and 29th September (24 hours).
BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said:
“We are clear that we want to settle the dispute and bring about a change in Ryanair for the better.
“Pilots in Ryanair are seeking the same kind of policies and agreements that exist in other airlines – our demands are not unreasonable. We want to address issues like pensions; loss of licence insurance; maternity benefits; allowances; and harmonise pay across the UK in a fair, transparent, and consistent structure.
“While this action has considerably disrupted Ryanair, forcing them to engage contractors and bring in foreign crews to run its operation, it has had limited impact on the public’s travel plans.
“Ryanair should stop dragging its feet and get back to the negotiating table.”