Ryanair agrees to recognise UK pilots’ union – bowing to pressure from staff
The budget airline has signed an agreement with the British Airline Pilots Association
RYANAIR has signed an agreement with the British Airline Pilots Association to formally recognises a pilots' union for the first time.
It follows the budget airline's announcement earlier this month that its 600 UK-based pilots had accepted pay increases of up to 20 per cent.
The airline has bowed to pressure from pilots, after suffering turbulence in recent months from angry staff.
Ryanair's head of personnel, Eddie Wilson, said: "The fact that we have delivered pay rises of up to 20 per cent and union recognition for our pilots in our largest market, shows how serious
Ryanair is about working constructively with unions willing to work constructively with us."
Ryanair suffered a troubled end to 2017, with it forced to cancel 20,000 flights through to March this year, mainly because of botched holiday scheduling for pilots.
The fiasco triggered pilots' demands for better working conditions and representation, with some departing for other carriers.
The discontent also saw Ryanair hit by its first-ever strike by pilots, with German staff staging a short stoppage ahead of Christmas.
The voluntary recognition deal will see the BALPA reps involved in future negotiations on hours, holidays, pay and rostering.
BALPA general secretary Brian Strutton said: "Given Ryanair's previous hostility towards unions, today's agreement is an historic one.
"While we were initially sceptical about Ryanair's sincerity in offering recognition to us and other unions.
"Our conversations and meetings with them have shown that they are genuine in wanting a constructive trade union relationship."
The news comes after Ryanair said in December that it would also recognise an Irish pilots' trade union, Impact, in a bid to resolve the long-running row.
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Ryanair's decision to move towards trade union recognition marks a historic turning point for the company.
Outspoken chief executive Michael O'Leary - in charge since 1994 - had vehemently opposed any union representation for staff.
However, he came intense pressure to change his stance after the airline was forced to cancel thousands of flights for the winter season between November 2017 and March 2018.
In other news from the airline this month, passengers can now take just one piece of small hand luggage onto the plane for free.