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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/jan/30/ryanair-deal-uk-pilots-union-balps
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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Ryanair reaches 'historic' deal with UK pilots' union | Ryanair reaches 'historic' deal with UK pilots' union |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Airline’s agreement with Balpa follows years of hostility towards organised labour | Airline’s agreement with Balpa follows years of hostility towards organised labour |
| Staff and agency | Staff and agency |
| Tue 30 Jan 2018 11.47 GMT | Tue 30 Jan 2018 11.47 GMT |
| Last modified on Tue 30 Jan 2018 13.06 GMT | |
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| Ryanair and the UK trade union representing pilots have agreed a “historic” recognition deal following years of staunch opposition from the airline towards organised labour. | Ryanair and the UK trade union representing pilots have agreed a “historic” recognition deal following years of staunch opposition from the airline towards organised labour. |
| The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said it had signed a voluntary trade union recognition agreement, with its reps involved in future negotiations on pay, hours, rostering and holidays. | The British Airline Pilots’ Association (Balpa) said it had signed a voluntary trade union recognition agreement, with its reps involved in future negotiations on pay, hours, rostering and holidays. |
| Balpa said the move followed Ryanair’s announcement before Christmas that it was changing its stance towards unions in the face of threatened strike action. | Balpa said the move followed Ryanair’s announcement before Christmas that it was changing its stance towards unions in the face of threatened strike action. |
| Ryanair said it was willing to enter into discussions about recognising pilots’ unions in a number of European countries, including the UK. | Ryanair said it was willing to enter into discussions about recognising pilots’ unions in a number of European countries, including the UK. |
| Under the agreement, Balpa will be recognised as the sole trade union representing all of Ryanair’s 600 employed pilots based in the UK. | Under the agreement, Balpa will be recognised as the sole trade union representing all of Ryanair’s 600 employed pilots based in the UK. |
| Balpa’s 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. | “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. |
| “I am hopeful that this is the beginning of a strong and mutually beneficial relationship between Balpa and Ryanair, and I urge Ryanair to agree deals with pilot unions in other countries and with cabin crew unions.” | |
| The Ryanair chief people officer, Eddie Wilson, said: “This agreement validates the decision of Ryanair’s board in December to recognise unions, and the fact that we have delivered pay rises of up to 20% and union recognition for our pilots in our largest market, shows how serious Ryanair is about working constructively with unions that are willing to work constructively with us. | The Ryanair chief people officer, Eddie Wilson, said: “This agreement validates the decision of Ryanair’s board in December to recognise unions, and the fact that we have delivered pay rises of up to 20% and union recognition for our pilots in our largest market, shows how serious Ryanair is about working constructively with unions that are willing to work constructively with us. |
| “This rapid progress in the UK is in marked contrast to some other EU countries where we are still waiting for a response to our recognition proposals and where some unions have failed to put these substantial pay increases to our pilots. | “This rapid progress in the UK is in marked contrast to some other EU countries where we are still waiting for a response to our recognition proposals and where some unions have failed to put these substantial pay increases to our pilots. |
| “We now call on these unions to stop wasting time and act quickly to deliver 20% pay increases to our pilots in February, and conclude formal recognition agreements, which they are presently sitting on.” | “We now call on these unions to stop wasting time and act quickly to deliver 20% pay increases to our pilots in February, and conclude formal recognition agreements, which they are presently sitting on.” |
| Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary’s refusal to recognise trade unions was at the heart of the low-cost airline business model he developed, transforming a small Irish regional airline into Europe’s largest carrier by passenger numbers. | Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary’s refusal to recognise trade unions was at the heart of the low-cost airline business model he developed, transforming a small Irish regional airline into Europe’s largest carrier by passenger numbers. |
| He has frequently dismissed pilots’ complaints and insisted on pay negotiations being conducted through company-controlled representative committees at individual bases. He was once quoted as saying he would rather cut off his own hand than recognise unions. | He has frequently dismissed pilots’ complaints and insisted on pay negotiations being conducted through company-controlled representative committees at individual bases. He was once quoted as saying he would rather cut off his own hand than recognise unions. |
| However, a shortage of pilots led the airline to cancel thousands of flights earlier this year, shifting more power to staff. | However, a shortage of pilots led the airline to cancel thousands of flights earlier this year, shifting more power to staff. |
| Ryanair | Ryanair |
| Airline industry | Airline industry |
| Trade unions | Trade unions |
| news | news |
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