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Ryanair calls for ban on strikes by European air traffic controllers Ryanair calls for ban on strikes by European air traffic controllers
(about 11 hours later)
Ryanair has launched a petition calling for the removal of the right to strike for European airport traffic controllers as French staff prepare for two days of strikes expected to cause travel chaos.Ryanair has launched a petition calling for the removal of the right to strike for European airport traffic controllers as French staff prepare for two days of strikes expected to cause travel chaos.
The budget airline said that when the petition – Keep Europe’s Skies Open – reaches 1m signatures Ryanair will present it to the European commission and urge it to take action. The budget airline, know for its publicity stunts, said that when the petition – Keep Europe’s Skies Open – reaches 1m signatures Ryanair will present it to the European commission and urge it to take action.
A second option proposed by the petition is that controllers from other European countries should be allowed to manage flights over French airspace during strikes to minimise cancellations for travellers crossing France to other countries.A second option proposed by the petition is that controllers from other European countries should be allowed to manage flights over French airspace during strikes to minimise cancellations for travellers crossing France to other countries.
Related: Fewer rules, less hassle, more profit – how being nice paid off at RyanairRelated: Fewer rules, less hassle, more profit – how being nice paid off at Ryanair
Ryanair’s chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, said: “It’s unacceptable that Europe’s consumers repeatedly have their holiday and travel plans disrupted or cancelled by the selfish actions of ATC unions every summer, who use strikes as a first weapon rather than a last resort. If the EU won’t listen to the airlines, perhaps they’ll listen to Europe’s citizens.”Ryanair’s chief marketing officer, Kenny Jacobs, said: “It’s unacceptable that Europe’s consumers repeatedly have their holiday and travel plans disrupted or cancelled by the selfish actions of ATC unions every summer, who use strikes as a first weapon rather than a last resort. If the EU won’t listen to the airlines, perhaps they’ll listen to Europe’s citizens.”
The main French controllers’ union, the SNTCA has called a 48-hour strike starting at dawn on Thursday that will affect thousands of travellers.The main French controllers’ union, the SNTCA has called a 48-hour strike starting at dawn on Thursday that will affect thousands of travellers.
The strike is likely to affect flights not just to and from France but also destinations such as Italy and Spain which require planes to fly over French airspace. The action will be the second time this year passengers have been disrupted by an SNTCA stoppage.The strike is likely to affect flights not just to and from France but also destinations such as Italy and Spain which require planes to fly over French airspace. The action will be the second time this year passengers have been disrupted by an SNTCA stoppage.
The union is unhappy about proposed increases to its members’ pension age and a general worsening of working conditions.The union is unhappy about proposed increases to its members’ pension age and a general worsening of working conditions.
Steve Jary, national secretary for aviation at the Prospect union, which represents more than 3,000 UK controllers and engineers, said there had been no strike by UK air traffic controllers for more than a decade and that a ban was unnecessary.
He said: “Ryanair has an appalling employment relations record and it has resisted unionisation in the UK for many years. The notion that you could start controlling airspace in France is nonsense because it isn’t allowed. That shows that Ryanair is making political points here because it’s not serious.”
A spokesman for the Public and Commercial Services union, which represents other air traffic control workers, said: “Instead of trying to restrict the fundamental right to strike, which would level the UK down to some of the most repressive regimes in the world, companies like Ryanair would be better advised to lobby governments and employers to ensure workers get a fair deal to prevent disputes escalating.”
Travellers intending to fly from British airports were left stranded in April when French air traffic controllers stopped work. Ryanair said more than 3,600 flights were cancelled, disrupting the travel plans of more than 500,000 passengers.Travellers intending to fly from British airports were left stranded in April when French air traffic controllers stopped work. Ryanair said more than 3,600 flights were cancelled, disrupting the travel plans of more than 500,000 passengers.
The airline proposed that controllers would still be allowed to join unions and to negotiate through mediation or binding arbitration but, like their counterparts in the US, they would not be allowed to strike.