Irish carrier Ryanair has signed a deal with Unite the Union that will see its UK-based cabin crew gain union recognition.
The agreement follows a similar deal signed with ANPAC/ANPAV in Italy.
Ryanair says its UK cabin crew accounts for about 25 per cent of its fleet. Staff members will now be represented by a council.
The carrier made the decision to recognise unions in December 2017 after facing the threat of pilot strikes. A deal struck with the British Airline Pilots Association (BALPA) saw its UK-based members vote in favour of a 20 per cent pay rise, which CEO Michael O’Leary cautiously warned could impact the airline’s costs in the coming years.
Eddie Wilson, chief people officer at Ryanair, commented: “We are pleased to sign this cabin crew recognition agreement with Unite the Union in the UK. This is a further sign of the progress Ryanair is making with trade unions since our December 2017 decision to recognise them.
“We hope to announce further agreements over the coming weeks, in those countries where unions have approached these negotiations in a practical and positive manner. We are making less progress in some smaller countries where minor issues – such as days off for union officials – are unnecessarily delaying agreements.”
Wilson also said that Ryanair is “confounding those sceptics” who claimed the airline’s decision to recognise unions “was not real or genuine”.
ryanair.com