The British pilots association, BALPA, which represents Ryanair pilots in the UK, has accused the airline of using the threat of base closures to bully its staff.

BALPA General Secretary, Brian Strutton, said:

“Over a year gone and little has changed. Despite its apparent ‘road to Damascus’-style decision to change its approach and start recognising unions in 2018, Ryanair closed the Eindhoven base (Netherlands) and the Bremen base (Germany) and downsized one other base in Germany in retaliation after pilots took strike action in Germany and the Netherlands.

“Now Ryanair are also threatening the closure of two bases in the Canary Islands if cabin crew do not sign collective agreements by 18th January 2019.

“Unfortunately, we regard this as indicative of the way Ryanair are choosing to engage with their staff representatives. It appears that Ryanair management at the highest levels simply do not understand how to deal with unions.

“These heavy-handed tactics have no part to play in the modern industrial relations we are seeking to build in Ryanair. These are people’s lives and people’s jobs and they deserve to be treated with respect”

BALPA and our sister associations around Europe will not negotiate under threat. If Ryanair wishes to avoid a return to the industrial uncertainty and unrest of 2018, we suggest that senior management should consider abandoning the age-old failed practices of bullying their staff to enforce their way.