Ryanair staff announce 10 strike dates in September as Brits jet off for the last of the summer sun
BRITS flying with Ryanair could face more travel misery as the airline's Spanish staff announce ten strike days in September.
It follows the pilot strikes already confirmed in UK and Ireland.
The dates have been announced for September 1, 2, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27 and 28 after the airline announced closure of its two bases in the Canary Islands.
A third closure in Girona has yet to be confirmed.
Union representatives say they are not prepared to accept the situation, which they believe will involve the loss of hundreds of jobs.
The strike has been registered by the USO and SICTPLA unions today and will affect all 13 bases in Spain where Ryanair has a presence.
The Canary Islands' staff say Ryanair told them in separate meetings with cabin crew and pilots last week that the bases in Las Palmas and Tenerife would close on January 8, "without any guarantee over safeguarding jobs or relocation".
Jairo Gonzalo, organisation secretary of the USO union section in Ryanair and cabin crew of Tenerife Sur, said: “Ryanair has informed us that it will close the bases on January 8th and that it has no intention of reopening them in the medium term.
"In addition, the airline says there will be layoffs in January, without guaranteeing the possibility of relocation.
"These layoffs aren't quantified but there are about 200 workers here."
The closures will not mean that Ryanair will stop flying to the Canaries but the unions fear it will result in less seats and less services.
They allege it will "jeopardise some 5,000 daily air seats" though this has not been confirmed by the airline.
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The unions says a representative of Ryanair travelled to Tenerife from Ireland and told them it would have 30 fewer planes next year and "has decided to move them from the less profitable bases and relocate them in other countries and airports with growth plans."
But Jairo Gonzalo said this was nonsense: "As if it were possible to justify that the Canary Islands are unprofitable, when all the planes are full and the tickets sold well in advance."
The unions say they believe Ryanair is "using this situation to put pressure on governments and get subsidies" as it had heard hints that the closures could be reversed if the airline received financial help.
Representatives are also worried that the company won't stick to its promise of complying with Spanish labour legislation over dismissals.
Jairo said: "This makes us laugh."
He added they had no other choice but to strike.
Alejandro Cazorla, SEPLA union delegate at Ryanair, said: "This is a stressful situation for those who see their jobs in danger because they do not know what will happen to them or their families."
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Jairo Gonzalez said they were still willing to talk with Ryanair but added: "We doubt very much about Ryanair's willingness to reach an agreement."
A Ryanair spokesperson said: "As announced on 16th July, due to the late delivery of up to 30 Boeing MAX aircraft this winter a number of Ryanair bases will be cut or closed this winter.
"These consultations are taking place with our people at affected bases currently.
"No routes will be affected as they will be served by flights from other bases from November when the winter schedule starts.”