The British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) has called on Ryanair management to meet for conciliation talks at ACAS (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) to resolve the current dispute with its pilots. UK-based pilots employed by Ryanair and represented by BALPA are due to take strike action starting next Thursday, 22nd August 2019, unless this dispute can be resolved before then.

BALPA’s detailed claim on behalf of its members was submitted in March 2019 and since then none of list of items it contains – including pensions; loss of licence insurance; maternity benefits; allowances; and a fair, transparent, and consistent pay structure — has been progressed at all.

Brian Strutton, BALPA General Secretary, said, “Our members’ experience of trying to negotiate directly with Ryanair management has not been good. However, BALPA is offering to hold talks under the auspices of ACAS to try to resolve this dispute and avoid the need for strike action. If Ryanair cares about its customers they should join us.”