Union calls for recognition of aircraft engineers at Ryanair 


Specialists’ union Prospect has called on Ryanair to recognise it for representation of licensed aircraft engineers, following the budget airline’s announcement that it was opening recognition talks with unions representing pilots and cabin crew.


In December, pilots’ union BALPA accepted Ryanair’s offer to discuss recognising the union for all the company’s UK-based pilots. The invitation was also made to pilots’ unions in several other European countries, as well as to the Irish union Impact, for representation of the airline’s cabin crew. Ryanair was keen to avert strikes which were threatened over the busy Christmas period.


Prospect wants the same for its members who are aircraft engineers. 


General secretary Mike Clancy said: “Recognising Prospect would help Ryanair by making sure their engineers could have an independent voice and proper representation — something that is especially vital in a safety critical business like aviation.


BALPA general secretary Brian Strutton was due to meet with the company in January “to discuss what Ryanair management is doing to change the culture in the airline and prepare for recognition”. He asked the company to include the TUC and employment advisory service Acas to join the discussions.


Ryanair is now in recognition talks with unions in six countries.

https://www.prospect.org.uk/news/id/2017/December/19/Prospect-urges-Ryanair-recognise-union-rights-licensed-engineers-open-talks?_ts=1

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/dec/15/ryanair-to-recognise-unions-in-historic-shift-to-stop-christmas-strike-by-pilots