[Europe] Ryanair signs agreement with French and Spanish pilot unions

Following several months of industrial walkouts and protracted negotiations throughout Europe, Ryanair continues to make progress with its employees. The Irish airline has now signed an agreement with French and Spanish pilot unions, Simple Flying reports.

The agreements include highly anticipated salary increments and will last for the next five years.

Industrial walkout averted

Had the mutual agreements not been reached, Ryanair would have had to deal with the initial strike planned for July 23 and 24 in parallel with Belgian colleagues. Post-pandemic salaries have reportedly involved wage cuts of around 20 per cent. This in combination with currently harsh working conditions goes some way to explaining why several of the low-cost carrier's pilots chose to go on strike to voice their unhappiness.

However, the strike aversion only applies to French and Spanish pilots. The agreements centre on the unions Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (SNPL - France) and Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas (SEPLA - Spain) and will gradually allow the pilots to regain their pre-pandemic salaries within five years. 

These newly accelerated agreements will also ensure that the pilots' jobs remain secure and have a strong foundation for future growth within Ryanair. The airline intends to grow past 110 per cent of its pre-pandemic capacity.

Commenting on the success of a new five-year agreement, Darrell Hughes - Ryanair’s People Director - said, “We welcome these long-term agreements, which run until 2027 and will deliver numerous improvements for our pilots based in Spain and France. While the recovery from the impact of the pandemic is still ongoing and our industry faces significant challenges, this long-term agreement delivers stability, accelerated pay restoration, future pay increases, and other benefit improvements for pilots."

The accelerated agreement was reportedly rejected by the Belgian pilots’ union.

Source: Simple Flying

(Quote via original reporting)

Following several months of industrial walkouts and protracted negotiations throughout Europe, Ryanair continues to make progress with its employees. The Irish airline has now signed an agreement with French and Spanish pilot unions, Simple Flying reports.

The agreements include highly anticipated salary increments and will last for the next five years.

Industrial walkout averted

Had the mutual agreements not been reached, Ryanair would have had to deal with the initial strike planned for July 23 and 24 in parallel with Belgian colleagues. Post-pandemic salaries have reportedly involved wage cuts of around 20 per cent. This in combination with currently harsh working conditions goes some way to explaining why several of the low-cost carrier's pilots chose to go on strike to voice their unhappiness.

However, the strike aversion only applies to French and Spanish pilots. The agreements centre on the unions Syndicat National des Pilotes de Ligne (SNPL - France) and Sindicato Español de Pilotos de Líneas Aéreas (SEPLA - Spain) and will gradually allow the pilots to regain their pre-pandemic salaries within five years. 

These newly accelerated agreements will also ensure that the pilots' jobs remain secure and have a strong foundation for future growth within Ryanair. The airline intends to grow past 110 per cent of its pre-pandemic capacity.

Commenting on the success of a new five-year agreement, Darrell Hughes - Ryanair’s People Director - said, “We welcome these long-term agreements, which run until 2027 and will deliver numerous improvements for our pilots based in Spain and France. While the recovery from the impact of the pandemic is still ongoing and our industry faces significant challenges, this long-term agreement delivers stability, accelerated pay restoration, future pay increases, and other benefit improvements for pilots."

The accelerated agreement was reportedly rejected by the Belgian pilots’ union.

Source: Simple Flying

(Quote via original reporting)