Updated, 14 December, 10.20am
RYANAIR PILOTS IN Portugal are set to strike next week, piling the pressure on the low cost airline.
Portuguese pilots union SPAC said today that its pilots would be holding a 24 hour strike on Wednesday, 20 December.
This is the same time that Irish pilots in Ryanair who are members of Ialpa intend to undertake strike action.
In a statement SPAC said that “deeply regrets that potential disruption to passenger travel plans may arise”.
“It is the Pilots who hold the key to opening the door to growth and expansion that will maximize returns to shareholders,” the union said.
SPAC said that the strike was “not due to payments”.
It said that the strike would be cancelled “if the Ryanair administration shows openness to constructive dialogue with a view to collective bargaining and recognition of the SPAC Business Commission as negotiator”.
The Portuguese action will coincide with Irish industrial action on the same day. Italian Ryanair pilots plan to hold a four hour strike on Friday.
Pilots across Europe have demanded improved pay and conditions from the airline and the right to have union representation for collective bargaining across all of Europe.
Ryanair has repeatedly stated that it does not engage with third-party unions and all contract and pay negotiations are dealt with internally through its Employee Representative Councils (ERCs).
It has blamed rival airlines and unions for the threats of industrial action.
Ryanair told TheJournal.ie that it does not “comment on rumour or speculation”.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say